Quarks

Quarks are fundamental particles that combine to form protons and neutrons, which are the building blocks of atomic nuclei. There are six types (flavors) of quarks: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. Quarks are never found alone; they exist in groups, typically forming pairs or triplets. Their properties, such as charge and mass, contribute to the formation of matter. Quarks are held together by the strong force, mediated by particles called gluons, making them crucial for understanding the fundamental structure of matter in the universe.