Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

What is a quark?

ScienceLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

A quark is one of the tiniest known building blocks of matter, combining to form protons and neutrons. Quarks come in six 'flavors' and are never found alone — they're bound together by the strongest force in nature. It's a fundamental particle, not made of anything smaller.

Key things to understand

  1. It's a fundamental particle, not made of anything smaller.
  2. Quarks combine in threes to form protons and neutrons.
  3. They come in six types ('flavors'): up, down, charm, strange, top, bottom.
  4. They're bound by the strong force and can't be isolated.
  5. Everyday matter is made mostly of 'up' and 'down' quarks.

People also ask

What are quarks?
Fundamental particles that combine to make protons and neutrons; they're among the smallest known building blocks of matter.
Can a quark exist alone?
No — the strong force binds quarks so tightly that they're never found in isolation, only in groups.
How many types of quarks are there?
Six 'flavors': up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom, though ordinary matter uses just up and down.