Learning Themes: 1 | 2 | 3 | Glossary |

Quarks: Ups, Downs, and the Universe. Quarks make up everything we know of, but the universe is a complicated place. Most adults know about molecules. Molecules are made of different kinds of atoms forming together. Atoms have a very small nucleus in the center which is surrounded by electrons. The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons and the protons and neutrons are made of quarks. Protons are particles which are mostly made of 2 up quarks and a down quark. Neutrons are particles which are mostly made of 2 down quarks and an up quark. Scientists have found that there are more types of quarks out there when they can create more mass according to Einstein's E=mc². There are actually 6 different kinds or flavors of quarks. They can combine in many different ways to form the bigger particles that we know of including the protons and neutrons. There are also other kinds of particles that we know about.

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