This simplistic model of an atom shows protons as red spheres in the central nucleus. This model is NOT to scale; to match the scale of the nucleus the electrons (yellow) should be much smaller and much further away from the nucleus. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).
A proton is one of the most important types of subatomic particles. Protons
combine with electrons and (usually) neutrons to make atoms.
Protons are nearly the same size as neutrons and are much larger than electrons.
A proton has a mass about 1,836 times greater than the mass of an electron,
but the masses of protons and neutrons differ from each other by less than
one percent. A proton has a mass of 1.6726 x 10-24 grams.
Protons have a positive electrical charge, which is sometimes called the elementary
charge or fundamental charge or a charge of +1. Electrons have a charge of
the same strength but opposite polarity, -1. The fundamental charge has a strength
of 1.602 x 10-19 coulomb.
The nucleus of an atom is a combination of roughly equal numbers of protons
and neutrons held together by the strong
nuclear force. Clouds of electrons
orbit the nucleus, attracted by the positive charges of the protons.
Protons are baryons, a class of subatomic particles that also includes neutrons.
Protons are composed of two up quarks and one down quark.
A single electron orbiting a single proton is a simple hydrogen atom, the
most abundant element in the Universe. Such hydrogen atoms often have their
electron stripped away in a process called ionization, which leaves a lone
proton. Such lone protons, also called hydrogen ions (H+), are very
common. Because of their charges, these protons can be accelerated by electrical
or magnetic fields to high energies, and can thus become a dangerous form of
particle
radiation.
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Everything you see around you is made of tiny particles called atoms, but not all atoms are the same. Different combinations of protons , neutrons and electrons make different types of atoms and these...more
One main type of radiation, particle radiation, is the result of subatomic particles hurtling at tremendous speeds. Protons, cosmic rays, and alpha and beta particles are some of the most common types...more
Atoms and the minute particles from which they are made strongly influence the nature of many phenomena that play out their roles on astronomical scales. The fields of atomic physics and particle physics...more
"Atomic mass" is a term physicists use to describe the size (mass) of an atom of a specific type. Since the nucleus of an atom contains nearly all (more than 99%) of an atom's mass, "atomic mass" is more-or-less...more
The atomic number of an atom tells us how many protons are in the nucleus of that atom. Why is that important? The chemical properties of an element are determined by the number of electrons in its atoms,...more
Isotopes are different "versions" of a chemical element. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons. For example, all hydrogen atoms have one proton, all carbon atoms have six protons, and...more
Chemistry is the study of matter, energy, and their interactions. Chemists study the composition of substances, their properties, and how they react with each other under varying circumstances. Indeed,...more
Generous sponsorship of Windows to the Universe is provided by the Hewlett Foundation, the American Geological Institute, the American Geophysical Union, the National Science Foundation, NASA, NCAR, and the CISM and CMMAP projects.
Atomic Physics and Particle Physics
A Matter of Scale - interactive showing the sizes of things, from very tiny to huge - from NSF
