Hadron

Hadron is a term used in particle physics to describe any composite particle made of quarks, antiquarks, and gluons. Hadrons are categorized into two families: baryons, such as protons and neutrons, and mesons, such as pions and kaons.

Overview

Hadrons are defined by their strong interaction with other particles. This interaction is mediated by the exchange of gluons, the force-carrying particles of the strong nuclear force. The term "hadron" comes from the Greek word for "stout, thick", which is a reference to the strong force's short-range nature.

Classification

Hadrons are classified into two families: baryons and mesons. Baryons are made of three quarks, while mesons are made of a quark and an antiquark. The most well-known baryons are the proton and the neutron, which make up the nuclei of atoms. Mesons often act as the force carriers for the strong nuclear force, similar to how photons act as the force carriers for the electromagnetic force.

Properties

The properties of hadrons are determined by the properties of their constituent quarks and gluons. These properties include charge, spin, and color charge. The color charge of a hadron is always neutral, as the color charges of the constituent quarks and antiquarks always cancel out.

See also

• Quark
• Gluon
• Strong nuclear force
• Baryon
• Meson

Hadron

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  Bosons Hadrons Fermions RGB
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  Hadron colors