Intuitive

Concrete

• http://jakobschwichtenberg.com/what-are-quantum-numbers/

Abstract

Why is it interesting?

Quantum numbers are what we use to label elementary particles and their values are crucial for the behaviour of particles in experiment.

For example, an electron is defined by the following quantum numbers

• mass: $9,109 \cdot 10^{-31}$ kg
• spin: $\frac{1}{2}$
• electric charge: $1,602 \cdot 10^{-19}$ C
• weak charge, called weak isospin: $-\frac{1}{2}$
• strong charge, called color charge: $0$

These labels determine how a given elementary particle behaves in experiments. The techincal term for these labels is quantum numbers.