When comparing both, the key difference between leptons and quarks is that leptons can exist as individual particles in nature whereas quarks cannot. What is the Difference Between Leptons and Quarks?Įlectrons, muons (µ), tau (Ƭ) and their corresponding neutrinos are known as the family of leptons while quarks is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. (Most common and known types of the hadrons are protons and neutrons). Moreover, it is reasonable to say that all the quarks in this universe are in some form of hadrons. In fact, isolated quarks do not exist in our universe at present. Quarks interact strongly with each other by strong nuclear interaction to form combinations of quarks. However, the accuracy of these numbers is highly debatable). (The mass of each particle is below the name itself. We can summarize the properties of particles in the quark family as follows. Quark is the other major category of elementary particles. For example, the anti-particle of the electrons are positrons. And, these anti-leptons have similar mass and opposite charge. For each lepton particle, there are anti-particles we name as antileptons. In addition, leptons interact with each other by electromagnetic interaction and weak nuclear interaction. Furthermore, we can produce these particles in particle accelerators. In the present day, we can see them only in instances where there is a high energy density. To generate muons and tau particles, we need a high level of energy. The electron is the lightest particle that is why the universe is abundant with electrons, and the other particles are rare. Therefore, massive particles have a shorter half-life than the less massive ones. – Large numbers produced in the upper atmosphere by cosmic radiationīesides, the stability of these heavier particles directly relates to their masses. The following table summarizes each particle and where to find them. Moreover, their corresponding neutrinos are neutral and relatively massless. That is the muon is three times more massive than the electron, and tau is 3500 times larger than the electron. Furthermore, electron, muon, and tau have a charge of -1, and they differ from each other only from the mass. Particles that we call electrons, muons (µ), tau (Ƭ) and their corresponding neutrinos are known as the family of leptons. Side by Side Comparison – Leptons vs Quarks in Tabular Form Thus, these particles are known as elementary particles, and Leptons and Quarks are their two main categories. Furthermore, investigations reveal that subatomic particles also have internal structure, and made of smaller things. Therefore, we call them subatomic particles: namely, the proton, neutron and electron. Until the 20th century, people believed that atoms are indivisible, but the 20th century physicists discovered that the atom can be broken into smaller pieces, and all atoms are made of different compositions. The key difference between leptons and quarks is that leptons can exist as individual particles in nature whereas quarks cannot.
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