Quarks and Sharks

This book attempts to convey the basics of particle physics by telling a story in which elementary particles are characters living out their existence in the subatomic realm.

Although allegorical in nature, a reasonable degree of nonfiction is conveyed within the footnotes. It is recommended to read the book first as a story, then reread it a second time while delving deeper into the footnotes.

The particles (or characters) are governed by the fundamental forces of nature: The Strong Force, Electromagnetism, the Weak Force and Gravity. There are particles composed of both matter and anti-matter; the fundamental forces drive particles to interact with each other. These interactions give rise to new characters in the story.

Concepts such as beta decay, positron emission, nuclear color charge and gluon field confinement are addressed. Elements of Grand Unified Theory are covered as well as an introduction to the Higgs Boson and Intelligent Design.