Subatomáris

Subatomáris refers to particles that are smaller than an atom. These fundamental constituents of matter are the building blocks from which all atoms are composed. The most well-known subatomic particles are protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons reside within the atom's nucleus, while electrons orbit the nucleus in distinct energy levels.

Protons carry a positive electrical charge, and electrons carry a negative electrical charge. Neutrons, as their name suggests, are electrically neutral. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and thus its identity as a specific chemical element. The number of electrons typically balances the number of protons in a neutral atom, but ions can form when an atom gains or loses electrons.

Beyond these three main particles, quantum physics has revealed a deeper layer of subatomic reality. Protons and neutrons are themselves composed of even smaller particles called quarks. There are six types of quarks, categorized into three generations. Electrons, on the other hand, are considered fundamental particles in the Standard Model of particle physics, meaning they are not thought to be made up of smaller components.

Other subatomic particles include bosons, such as photons (the particles of light) and gluons (which bind quarks together), and neutrinos, which are very light and interact weakly with other matter. The study of subatomic particles is the domain of particle physics and quantum mechanics, seeking to understand the fundamental forces and constituents of the universe.