there a 6 kinds of Quarks but why do we only really see two kinds of particles made with them?

346 viewsOtherPhysics

So I understand that Up and Down quarks make Protons and Neutrons so why do we bot see more of the other types of quarks around us and the various particles they compose?

In: Physics

5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Everything in nature likes to be in the lowest energy state it can, and this goes extra for nuclear physics.

So, if a particle CAN decay, it WILL decay. And it so happens that all the heavier quarks can decay into other products in normal circumstances, but Up and Down can’t because they’re already the lowest energy states.

So they’re the only two we observe. 

Now, it is theorised that there can be stable matter with the Strange quark in the hearts of neutron stars, and that it can remain stable outside of it if it escapes, but this was not yet observed as of today.

You are viewing 1 out of 5 answers, click here to view all answers.