Parton model

The Parton model describes protons and neutrons as being made up of smaller entities called quarks and gluons, known collectively as partons. In high-energy experiments, these partons behave like independent particles inside the proton, carrying specific portions of its momentum. This model helps scientists understand how the proton's internal structure affects the outcomes of particle collisions, revealing that what seems like a single particle is actually composed of dynamic, point-like constituents that influence its behavior at very small scales.