BRAINCAKEHadrons and Leptons
Particles can be sorted into two main groups according to whether or not they feel the strong nuclear force.
Hadrons are particles (and antiparticles) that are affected by the strong nuclear force. Examples are the proton and the neutron. Hadrons are not fundamental: they are made of quarks. Hadrons may also feel the weak nuclear force and, if they are charged, the electromagnetic force. There are two families of hadrons, called baryons and mesons.
Leptons are particles (and antiparticles) that are not affected by the strong nuclear force. They interact through the weak nuclear force and, if charged, the electromagnetic force (and gravity, like all particles with mass). Examples are the electron and the neutrino. Leptons are fundamental particles.
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- quark
- A fundamental particle that combines with others, bound by the strong nuclear force, to form hadrons such as protons and neutrons.
- strong nuclear force
- The fundamental force that acts between quarks and holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, with a very short range.
More in Fundamental Particles
- Fundamental Particles
- Antiparticles
- The Strong Nuclear Force
- Quarks and Antiquarks
- Quark Composition of Protons and Neutrons
- Baryons and Mesons
- Beta-Minus Decay and Quarks
- Beta-Plus Decay and Quarks
All 11 lessons in Fundamental Particles · All OCR A-level Physics topics