Why are all electrons the same and how do we know?

Question

I read on an article that electrons are “all the same.” Why is that and what does that mean? How can electrons be identical? Does that apply to other elementary particles?

In: 9

Answer 1

When you hear that they are “all the same” it means that there is no accepted theory, experimental observation or even speculative physics that suggests that one electron can be measured or used to interact differently than any other electron.

On the other hand there is no accepted theory that says all electrons *must* be identical. New physics can change this thinking.

All elementary particles in the standard model are identical in this way.