ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mathematical formulation of the Standard Model

The standard model is a set of rules that scientists use to explain how tiny particles called atoms and subatomic particles behave. These particles are so small that we can't see them with our naked eyes, but scientists have figured out how they interact with each other.

To write down these rules, scientists use a special language called mathematics. Imagine you have a bunch of Legos and you want to build a castle. You need to follow some steps to put the Legos in the right place so you get a nice castle.

Mathematics is like those steps you have to follow with the Legos. You need to use certain symbols and equations to show how the particles interact with each other. For example, one equation might say that an electron has a certain amount of energy and is moving in a certain direction.

The standard model uses a special mathematical language called quantum field theory. This language helps scientists describe how tiny particles behave both as particles and as waves. It also tells us how they interact with each other through force-carrying particles called bosons.

To understand quantum field theory, you need to imagine that the universe is filled with invisible fields that particles can interact with. These fields are like a giant soup that particles move through.

When particles move through these fields, they create waves and ripples in the soup. These waves can be described using mathematics, and scientists use that math to calculate how the particles will move and interact with each other.

So in summary, the standard model is a set of rules that scientists use to describe how tiny particles behave, and they use a special language called quantum field theory to write down those rules using math. The result is a comprehensive mathematical formulation that allows us to understand the behavior of subatomic particles.