What is the Difference Between Leptons and Hadrons?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Leptons and hadrons are two distinct categories of subatomic particles. The main differences between them are:
- Composition: Hadrons are composed of quarks, whereas leptons are fundamental particles with no measurable size.
- Interaction: Leptons are spin 1/2 particles that do not interact via the strong force, while hadrons are particles that interact via the strong force.
- Structure: Leptons have no structure, whereas hadrons are divided into two sub-categories depending on their spin: baryons (half-integral spin) and mesons (integral spin).
- Examples: Examples of leptons include electrons, muons, and electron and muon neutrinos. Examples of hadrons include protons, neutrons, pions, and kaons.
- Baryon and Lepton Numbers: Leptons have a lepton number of 1, and baryons have a baryon number of 1. Their antiparticles have lepton and baryon numbers of -1.
In summary, leptons are fundamental particles that do not interact via the strong force, while hadrons are composite particles made of quarks that interact via the strong force.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Leptons and Hadrons? Comparative Table: Leptons vs Hadrons
Comparative Table: Leptons vs Hadrons
Here is a table comparing the differences between leptons and hadrons:
Property | Leptons | Hadrons |
---|---|---|
Definition | Leptons are spin 1/2 particles that do not interact via the strong force. | Hadrons are particles that interact via the strong force and are composed of quarks. |
Subcategories | Leptons are fundamental particles with no measurable size. | Hadrons are divided into two subcategories: baryons and mesons. Baryons have half-integral spin (mainly 1/2 and 3/2), while mesons have integral spin (mainly 0 and 1). |
Interactions | Leptons interact through electromagnetic and weak forces. | Hadrons interact through the strong force. |
Mass | Leptons are generally less massive than hadrons. | Hadrons are more massive than leptons. |
Examples | Electrons, muons, and electron/muon neutrinos are examples of leptons. | Protons, neutrons, pions, and kaons are examples of hadrons. |
Leptons and hadrons are two categories of elementary particles, known as fermions, in the Standard Model of particle physics. While leptons do not interact via the strong force and have no measurable size, hadrons interact through the strong force and are composed of quarks, with a diameter on the order of 10^-15 m.
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