7. Particles Interactions

- All forces/interactions are caused by an exchange particle, which are virtual particles.

- They only exsist for a short period of time, in order to transfer energy, momentum and other properties in the interaction. We name these exchange particles Gauge Bosons;

Type of Interaction        Gauge Boson        Particles Affected

        strong                           pions                  hadrons only

  electromagnetic           virtual photon        charged particles

        weak                    W+, W- bosons              all types

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