Main menu
Click categories to expand
A-Z listingplugin-autotooltip__plain plugin-autotooltip_bigA-Z listing
This is an alphabetical index of all content pages.
Other categories
Utilities
Also see
Importance Ratings
News
Legal
Donate/Sponsor
Curator's rationale
AI Policy
Twitter feed ð•
Feeds + s.e.o. etc.
rss / xml feed 
sitemap file
A-Z listing (archived)
It's been known since the 1970s that there are three 'generations' of quarksplugin-autotooltip__plain plugin-autotooltip_bigQuarks
Following theoretical calculations, particle accelerator experiments in the 1970s confirmed that quarks are responsible for the internal structure of protons and neutrons. ( 3 quarks each, in different configurations, see :Electron / Quark charge balance).
Agai… (the building components of neutrons and protons) and also leptons (electrons and similar particles).
All the particles have been rigorously confirmed in multiple experiments, and the three 'generations' (possibly better understood as 'families') are now firmly part of the Standard Model of nuclear physics.
| Fermion categories | Elementary particle generation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Subtype | First | Second | Third |
| Quarks (coloured) | down-type | down | strange | bottom |
| up-type | up | charm | top | |
| Leptons (colour-free) | charged | electron | muon | tauon |
| neutral | electron neutrino | muon neutrino | tau neutrino | |
[ table from Wikipedia ]
There is currently no explanation as to why there should be three distinct generations of each.
Several experiments have attempted to find fourth generations of various particles, but none has yet been found (example research from CERN).
Ideas for new topics, and suggested additions / corrections for older ones, are always welcome.
If you have skills or interests in a particular field, and have suggestions for Wikenigma, get in touch !
Or, if you'd like to become a regular contributor . . . request a login password. Registered users can edit the entire content of the site, and also create new pages.
( The 'Notes for contributors' section in the main menu has further information and guidelines etc.)
You are currently viewing an auto-translated version of Wikenigma
Please be aware that no automatic translation engines are 100% accurate, and so the auto-translated content will very probably feature errors and omissions.
Nevertheless, Wikenigma hopes that the translated content will help to attract a wider global audience.
DOKUWIKI IMPLEMENTATION DESIGN BY UNIV.ORG.UK DECEMBER 2023