Understanding the Standard Model

The Standard Model is a fundamental framework in modern physics that describes the basic particles and forces that constitute the universe, excluding gravity. It categorizes particles into two main types: fermions, which make up matter, and bosons, which mediate forces. Within fermions, there are quarks and leptons, with quarks combining to form protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei, while leptons include familiar particles like electrons and their heavier counterparts. The model encapsulates four fundamental forces: electromagnetic, weak nuclear, strong nuclear, and the Higgs mechanism, with bosons such as photons and gluons representing these forces.