Yhdistelmähiukkasilla

Yhdistelmähiukkasilla is a Finnish term that translates to "composite particles" in English. This concept in physics refers to particles that are not fundamental, meaning they are made up of smaller, more fundamental constituents. Unlike elementary particles such as electrons or quarks, composite particles have an internal structure.

The most well-known examples of composite particles are hadrons, which are composed of quarks. Hadrons are further divided into two categories: baryons, which consist of three quarks (e.g., protons and neutrons), and mesons, which are made up of a quark and an antiquark (e.g., pions and kaons). The strong nuclear force binds these quarks together.

Beyond hadrons, other composite particles exist. For instance, atomic nuclei are composite structures formed from protons and neutrons, which are themselves composite particles. Even atoms can be considered composite, consisting of a nucleus and orbiting electrons. However, in the context of particle physics, the term "composite particle" most often refers to particles that are not fundamental at the most basic level of understanding known to physics.

The study of composite particles is crucial for understanding the fundamental forces and the structure of matter. By analyzing how composite particles interact and are structured, physicists can gain deeper insights into the nature of the universe at its smallest scales.