how to explain to younger students

• Although you’ve been told that atoms are the smallest unit of matter, there are actually smaller particles that make up atoms called quarks, which are super super small particles in their own world— the quantum world
• These super small particles are controlled by other super small particles called bosons, which allow forces in our universe to exist, such as the ones that power a lightbulb, or fuel our sun
• The Standard Model is a theory of physics, meaning, it still has to be fully proven, and we’re not really sure if its actually true
• We know the Standard Model doesn’t really explain everything, because it cannot explain gravity, the force that keeps us on the ground
• Physicists are trying to formulate a theory that includes gravity, a theory of everything, and so far what we have is something called modern String theory, which says that super small particles are made up of closed and open ended strings that vibrate, kind of like different strings on a guitar

Introduction

Quantum Field Theory

The Model groups particles into two categories: fermions, which are matter particles, and bosons, which are force particles

Fermions

Bosons

• Electromagnetic force
• Strong nuclear force
• Weak force
• Higgs-Boson

Where is gravity?

A Theory of Everything