The elementary particles are the fundamental building blocks of matter and energy in the universe. They include particles such as quarks, leptons, and bosons. Quarks combine to form protons and neutrons, which make up atomic nuclei, while leptons include electrons, which orbit these nuclei. Bosons are force-carrying particles that mediate interactions between other particles. For example, the photon is the boson responsible for electromagnetic force, while the gluon holds quarks together within protons and neutrons. Understanding these particles is essential for studying the fundamental laws of physics and the structure of the universe.