The proton and neutron are not particles because they are made up of smaller particles themselves. When you smash particles together in a particle collider these fundamental particles are separated out and can be detected. While there are hundreds of 'sub-sub-atomic' particles, they are all made up of just a few fundamental particles: electron positron (anti-electron) quarks netrinos muons These are particles because it is believed that they are not made up of anything else. The proton and neutron are made of three quarks. Quarks come in 'flavours':
While there are hundreds of 'sub-sub-atomic' particles, they are all made up of just a few fundamental particles:
The proton and neutron are made of three quarks. Quarks come in 'flavours':
This also allows us to explain both forms of beta decay:
