Classification Of Particles

Introduction
Subatomic particles are classified based on their mass, type of
interaction and electrical charge. Classification based on the mass of
the particles is the most basic way of understanding the subatomic
particles. The following figure shows the classification of subatomic
particles based on their mass. In this article, classification based on
mass of the particles is explained.

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 Figure 1: Classification of Particles

A. Hadrons

Hadrons are the heaviest particles. They are subject to the strong
nuclear force and they are not fundamental particles as they are made
up of quarks. This group is then split up into Baryons and Mesons.
Baryons are the heaviest particles of all, followed by mesons. Pions
and Kaons are examples of Mesons particles. Protons and neutrons
are examples of Baryons.

Baryons

Baryons are subatomic particles made up of three quarks. The name

“Baryon” comes from the Greek word for “heavy” (barys), because, at
the time of their naming, most known elementary particles had lower
masses than Baryons. As quark-based particles, Baryons participate
in the strong interaction. The most familiar Baryons are the protons
and neutrons that make up most of the mass of the visible matter in
the universe. Each Baryon has a corresponding antiparticle (an
antibaryon) where quarks are replaced by their corresponding
antiquarks.

Mesons

Mesons are subatomic particles composed of one quark and one

antiquark bound together by strong interactions. Because Mesons are
composed of quark sub particles, they have physical size, notably a
diameter of roughly one femtometer. All Mesons are unstable, with the
longest-lived lasting for only a few hundredths of a microsecond.
Charged Mesons decay, sometimes through mediating particles, to
form electrons and neutrinos. Uncharged Mesons may decay to
photons.

B. Leptons

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 Leptons are particles that are not affected by the strong force. These
type of particles do not appear to be composed of any smaller
particles and are, therefore, considered to be fundamental particles.
Electrons, muons, and neutrinos are some examples of Leptons.

Muons

A Muon is an elementary particle similar to the electron, with an

electric charge of −1 e and a spin of 1/2, but with a much greater
mass. The Muon is an unstable subatomic particle with a mean
lifetime of 2.2 μs, much longer than many other subatomic particles.
Muons’ decay almost always produce at least three particles, which
must include an electron of the same charge as the Muon and two
neutrinos of different types.

Like all elementary particles, the Muon has a corresponding

antiparticle of opposite charge (+1 e) but equal mass and spin: the
antimuon (also called a positive Muon). Muons are denoted by μ− and
antimuons by μ+.

C. Summary

 Subatomic particles are classified based on their mass, type of

interaction and electrical charge.
 Based on mass, subatomic particles are classified as Hadrons
and Leptons.
 Hadrons are the heaviest particles and are affected by strong
force.
 Baryons are subatomic particles made up of three quarks.
 Mesons are subatomic particles composed of one quark and one
antiquark.
 Leptons are lighter particles and are not affected by strong force.
 A Muon is an elementary particle similar to the electron, with an
electric charge of −1 e and a spin of 1/2, but with a much greater
mass.

MUHAMMAD RIZWAN SIDDIQI (ONLINE TUTOR) CONTACT: +923323388218

MUHAMMAD RIZWAN SIDDIQI (ONLINE TUTOR) CONTACT: +923323388218