" Informally speaking, fermions are particles of matter and bosons are particles that transmit forces. For a detailed description of the differences between fermions and bosons, see the article on identical particles . In the Standard Model, the theory of the electroweak interaction (which describes the weak and electromagnetic interactions) is combined with the theory of quantum chromodynamics. All of these theories are gauge theories, meaning that they model the forces between fermions by coupling them to bosons which mediate (or "carry") the forces. The Lagrangian of each set of mediating bosons is invariant under a transformation called a gauge transformation, so these mediating bosons are referred to as gauge bosons. The bosons in the Standard Model are: Unsolved problems in physics: Parameters in the Standard Model: What gives rise to the Standard Model of particle physics? Why do its particle masses and coupling constants possess the values we have measured? Does the Higgs boson predicted by the model really exist? Why are there three generations of particles in the Standard Model? Is the Standard Model reality, a good approximation to reality, or fatally flawed? Photons, which mediate the electromagnetic interaction. W and Z bosons, which mediate the weak nuclear force Eight species of gluons, which mediate the strong nuclear force. Model Plastic Six of these gluons are labelled as pairs of "colors" and "anti-colors" (for example, a gluon can carry "red" and "anti-green". ) The other two species are a more complex mix of colors and anti-colors. "

" That justifies talking about their purpose prior to talking about their consistency. Models are used as substitutes for originals because properties of the latter are of interest and the originals are not going to be investigated themselves. There may be a number of reasons for that such as taboos preventing from studying the original itself, or inability, the involved cost in terms of resources or moral damage being intolerable, or similar. For an investigator I it makes only sense to consider an entity M as a substitute of an entity O, if I can (1) establish an analogy, similarity, or similar relation between M and O that permits the substitution of O by M with respect to purpose and means, time-horizon etc. , and (2) I can actually investigate M in the required way. That implies firstly that M does not have the properties of O that prevent I from investigating O. Also other properties of O may not be properties of M. Groupsmsncom Model Site Teen In that sense a model is more abstract than its original. Secondly, a model M will in general have properties that O does not have and that actually aid I in investigating M. "