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What distinguishes hadrons from leptons?

  1. Leptons are made up of quarks

  2. Hadrons do not experience the strong force

  3. Hadrons are fundamental particles

  4. Leptons do not experience the strong force

The correct answer is: Leptons do not experience the strong force

The correct answer highlights a fundamental aspect of particle physics: leptons do not experience the strong nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces in nature. Hadrons, on the other hand, are composite particles made up of quarks and are subject to the strong force, which is responsible for holding the quarks together within hadrons, such as protons and neutrons. In contrast, leptons are elementary particles that do not participate in strong interactions. They include particles such as electrons, muons, and neutrinos. This distinction is crucial, as it defines the behavior and interactions of leptons and hadrons within the realm of particle physics. The other statements don't accurately describe their characteristics: leptons are not made up of quarks, but rather are fundamental entities themselves; hadrons experience the strong force, as they are composites; and not all hadrons are fundamental particles, as they are constructed from quarks, unlike leptons.