Definition

A type of particle that is heavier than a neutron and belongs to the group of baryons, which are particles made up of three quarks.

Example

The physicists studied the properties of hyperons in their experiments.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a hyperon?

Yeah, I think it's some kind of particle, right?

Exactly! It's heavier than a neutron, which is pretty fascinating.

Science is wild! I love learning about those tiny particles.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hyperon is formed from "hyper-" (meaning over or beyond) and "on" (a suffix used in particle physics to denote a type of particle). The word "hyperon" refers to a type of subatomic particle that is heavier than a nucleon and contains strange quarks, thus indicating its nature of being beyond the ordinary nucleon.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hyper-' meaning 'beyond' to remember that a hyperon is a particle that goes beyond the usual nucleon in weight.

Visually Confused Words