Composition | Elementary particle |
---|---|
Statistics | Fermion |
Generation | First, second and third |
Interactions | Weak interaction and gravitation |
Symbol | , , |
Antiparticle | Antineutrinos are possibly identical to the neutrino (see Majorana fermion). |
Theorized | (Electron neutrino): Wolfgang Pauli (1930) (Muon neutrino): Late 1940s (Tau neutrino): Mid 1970s |
Discovered |
|
Types | 3 – electron neutrino, muon neutrino and tau neutrino |
Mass | Small, but non-zero. |
Electric charge | 0 |
Spin | 1⁄2 |
Weak hypercharge | −1 |
B − L | −1 |
X | −3 |
Neutrinos are a type of elementary particle that exist all across the universe. The word neutrino means a small neutral particle. Physicists study these particles, but they are hard to find because they have a very small chance of interacting with regular matter. (For example, they usually pass through the whole earth without touching any other particles). Neutrinos travel near the speed of light.