ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Free particle

A free particle is like a toy ball that can move all by itself without anyone pushing or pulling it. No one is stopping it from moving in any direction it wants to go. Just like a toy ball bounces around, a free particle can move around in any direction it wants to. Scientists use the word "particle" to describe the smallest things that make up matter, like atoms and electrons. When a particle is free, it doesn't have any barriers or obstacles in its way. It's like being able to run around in a big open field without any fences or walls to stop you. These particles can be studied by scientists in a lab to help us better understand how things move and work at the smallest levels.
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