Eli5: How do we know that quarks are fundamental particles, made up of nothing else?

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We used to think that atoms were the fundamental particles, made up of nothing smaller, but then we discovered the concept of sub-atomic particles who themselves were now fundamental, but now it has been concluded that quarks make up all of these and they themselves are indivisible. Each time we were wrong and the particles could be broken up smaller and smaller, how do we know this time for sure that quarks are fundamentak?

In: Physics

4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

We were not “wrong” before. Atoms and then protons/electrons just explained more of what we saw in experiments.

Newton wasnt wrong. We still use his ideas of gravity and laws of motion, even if Einstein has more refined ideas.

It’s the big difference between science and religion. Religion has one idea and wont change. Science change all the time if new “better” ideas that explain things better cimes along.

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