What is the Difference Between Leptons and Hadrons?

Leptons and hadrons are two distinct categories of subatomic particles. The main differences between them are:

1. Composition: Hadrons are composed of quarks, whereas leptons are fundamental particles with no measurable size.
2. Interaction: Leptons are spin 1/2 particles that do not interact via the strong force, while hadrons are particles that interact via the strong force.
3. Structure: Leptons have no structure, whereas hadrons are divided into two sub-categories depending on their spin: baryons (half-integral spin) and mesons (integral spin).
4. Examples: Examples of leptons include electrons, muons, and electron and muon neutrinos. Examples of hadrons include protons, neutrons, pions, and kaons.
5. Baryon and Lepton Numbers: Leptons have a lepton number of 1, and baryons have a baryon number of 1. Their antiparticles have lepton and baryon numbers of -1.

In summary, leptons are fundamental particles that do not interact via the strong force, while hadrons are composite particles made of quarks that interact via the strong force.

Comparative Table: Leptons vs Hadrons

Here is a table comparing the differences between leptons and hadrons:

Leptons and hadrons are two categories of elementary particles, known as fermions, in the Standard Model of particle physics. While leptons do not interact via the strong force and have no measurable size, hadrons interact through the strong force and are composed of quarks, with a diameter on the order of 10^-15 m.