What is a hadron?

A hadron is a subatomic particle made up of quarks held together by the strong nuclear force.

Hadrons are particles that are composed of quarks, which are elementary particles that come in six different types. The two most common types of hadrons are protons and neutrons, which are found in the nucleus of atoms. Protons are positively charged, while neutrons are neutral. Other types of hadrons include mesons, which are made up of a quark and an antiquark, and baryons, which are made up of three quarks.

The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding the quarks together within a hadron. This force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, along with gravity, electromagnetism, and the weak nuclear force. The strong force is the strongest of these four forces, but it only acts over very short distances.

Hadrons are important in particle physics because they are the particles that are most commonly produced in high-energy collisions. By studying the properties of hadrons, physicists can learn more about the fundamental forces and particles that make up the universe. Hadrons also play a role in the structure of matter, as they are the building blocks of atomic nuclei.