What is the smallest thing there is?

Title:

What is the smallest thing there is?

Theme: 

Atomic and nuclear physics

Content:

We know that atoms do not represent the smallest unit of matter. Particles called quarks and leptons seem to be the fundamental building blocks - but perhaps there is something even smaller. This talk will discuss the latest ideas in particle physics.

Why this is important? 

Attempts to understand the smallest components of matter go back to (at least) the Ancient Greeks. Democritus proposed over two thousand years ago that all matter consists of tiny indivisible particles. The question of what is the smallest particle is of fundamental importance and may ultimately be relevant to future technologies.

Key descriptors:

Atoms, particles, electrons

Suggested age range:

Year 11-13

Speaker:

Marika Taylor