Matter and Interactions: a particle physics perspective
Abstract
In classical mechanics matter and fields are completely separated. Matter interacts with fields. For particle physicists this is not the case. Both matter and fields are represented by particles. Fundamental interactions are mediated by particles exchanged between matter particles. In this paper we explain why particle physicists believe in such a picture, introducing the technique of Feynman diagrams starting from very basic and popular analogies with classical mechanics, making the physics of elementary particles comprehensible even to high school students, the only prerequisite being the knowledge of the conservation of mechanical energy.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1102.0943,
title = {Matter and Interactions: a particle physics perspective},
author = {Giovanni Organtini},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1102.0943},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
14 pages, 6 figures, Lecture given to degree students other than physicists during outreach seminars. Vers. 2 has better figure placement and an acknowledge section, as well as corrections in the bibliograhy