Yes, there are FReepers with a true interest, even if most of us will never contribute meaningfully to particle physics on either the experimental or theoretical sides.
Chrisser, some of the properties of particles are analogs for things in everyday life. For example, up/down and spin. Others of the properties are just whimsical names like strangeness. These descriptors serve to categorized the particles into natural groups.
Baryons and mesons are types of particles that are composed of these tiny indivisible (as far as we know) particles called quarks. Most baryons are composed of three quarks. Baryons and mesons together are called hadrons. The LHC, or Large Hadron Collider, is expected to reveal considerable information about these particles.
Steve86,
Thanks for the explanation.
Just speaking for myself, while I understand the use of analogous names, I find it actually makes it a bit more difficult. It would be easier for me to grasp if terms like up and down and strange were replaced by “boring” terms like “type A” or something.
But, it is what it is and the world doesn’t revolve around me ;)