What is the Standard Model?

Question

Can someone explain it in VERY simplistic/easy to understand terms? I'm very curious but it's hard to grasp everything I've read so far. Thanks!

Answer 1

The standard model of physics breaks down into several main areas which are used to describe the physical world on a scale of Velocity (or speed) and Size.

Although there is a limit of everything smaller than (h bar) = Planck's constant/2pi that we cannot measure or really understand, everything outside of this breaks down into these categories:

All of Newtons Laws (Classical Mechanics) and what were previously understood as the laws of physics are just a small section of the graph of the standard model. Which describe motion on regular distances and regular speeds. Everything outside this oversimplified framework is as follows:

General Relativity - Ultra long distances Ultra high speeds

Special Relativity - Regular distances Ultra high speeds

Quantum mechanics - Ultra small distances regular speeds

Quantum Electro-Dynamics - Ultra Small distances Ultra high speeds