Yes, all matter is composed of particles. At the most fundamental level, these particles can be classified into several categories:
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Atoms: The basic building blocks of matter, consisting of a nucleus (made up of protons and neutrons) and electrons that orbit the nucleus.
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Subatomic particles: Atoms themselves are made up of smaller particles:
- Protons and Neutrons are found in the nucleus and are collectively known as nucleons.
- Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.
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Quarks: Protons and neutrons are made of quarks, which are elementary particles and come in different types (flavors).
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Leptons: Electrons are part of a group of fundamental particles known as leptons, which also includes neutrinos.
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Bosons: These particles act as carriers of forces in nature, such as photons (which mediate electromagnetic force), gluons (which mediate the strong force), and W and Z bosons (which mediate the weak force).
In summary, everything around us is made up of these fundamental particles, which interact through fundamental forces, leading to the diverse forms of matter and energy we observe in the universe.