Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Particle Physics

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Particle Physics 1. Particle vs. Antiparticle Particles are the building blocks of the universe, but did you know that for every particle, there's an antiparticle? They have the same mass but opposite charge. Understanding this duality is crucial in fields like quantum mechanics. 2. Quark vs. Lepton Quarks and leptons are two fundamental types of particles. Quarks are the building blocks of protons and neutrons, while leptons include electrons and neutrinos. Remember, they have different properties and interactions. 3. Boson vs. Fermion Bosons and fermions are two broad categories of particles. Bosons, like the famous Higgs boson, carry forces, while fermions, such as electrons, make up matter. It's a distinction that's vital in understanding the universe's workings. 4. Mass vs. Weight Mass and weight are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted on it due to gravity. On Earth, weight is proportional to mass, but on other celestial bodies, it can vary. 5. Energy vs. Power