This chapter presents the so called Standard Model. The Standard Model summarises current understanding of fundamental particles and the forces that act between them.

The Standard Model describes how matter is built up of a group of elementary particles. It also explains how another group of particles, the so called force carriers, affects other particles through different kinds of interactions, and forms all structures in the micro cosmos.

Goal: the purpose of this chapter is to familiarize yourself with the various particles that build up our world and to describe how the different particles interact with each other.

At the end of this chapter you will find an interactive animation called " The Fireworks of Elementary Particle Physics". With this animation you can learn more about the Standard Model and do different kinds of exercises. The animation needs the Macromedia Flash Player program.