Final answer:
A hadron is not always a baryon; while all baryons are hadrons, not all hadrons are baryons. Particle accelerators currently do not have the energy to verify the Grand Unified Theory, and electrons are leptons, not hadrons. Conservation of baryon number ensures mass is conserved in nuclear processes. b) No is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hadrons and Baryons
Is a hadron always a baryon? The answer is No. Hadrons are particles that are affected by the strong nuclear force and include both baryons and mesons. Baryons, such as protons and neutrons, have three quarks. In contrast, mesons have a quark and an antiquark. Therefore, while all baryons are hadrons, not all hadrons are baryons.
Particle Physics and Conservation Laws
Conservation of baryon number is a principle in particle physics that states the total number of baryons (the sum of protons and neutrons) remains constant in isolated systems. This conservation law is responsible for the conservation of total atomic mass in nuclear reactions and decay processes.
Quarks and Strangeness
Particles with strangeness are required to have at least one strange quark. Likewise, hadrons that contain a strange quark will exhibit non-zero strangeness. This reflects their peculiar quantum number, which is conserved in strong interactions but can change in weak interactions.
Particle Accelerators and the Grand Unified Theory
Under current conditions, particle accelerators do not achieve the enormous energies required to verify the Grand Unified Theory. As of now, scientists can probe up to certain energy levels but not the scale where the grand unification of forces is expected to take place.
Electron Classifications
The electron is a fundamental particle known as a lepton, which does not experience the strong nuclear force, unlike hadrons.
Baryon Combinations
Given the six known types of quarks, there are many possible combinations to form baryons, each with a unique set of properties. However, the number of theoretically potential combinations is larger than the number of known baryons because not all combinations may be physically realizable or stable enough to be observed.