Protons can be found in the nucleus of every atom. While originally it had been thought that protons were a fundamental particle, recent research has shown that protons are made of quarks. This lesson will cover the properties of the proton.
Definition
A proton is a subatomic particle with a positive electric charge.
Protons are found in the nucleus of every atom. In fact, the number of protons in each atom is it’s atomic number.
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Until recently, the proton was considered a fundamental particle.
However, new technologies have led to the discovery that the proton is actually composed of smaller particles called quarks. A quark is a fundamental particle of matter that only recently has been discovered. There are six known types of quarks; up, down, strange, charm, top and bottom. A proton is composed of two up quarks and one down quark.
| Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
| Proton | a subatomic particle with a positive electric charge; composed of smaller particles called quarks |
| Quark | a fundamental particle of matter that only recently has been discovered |
| 6 types of quarks | up, down, strange, charm, top and bottom |
| Proton charge | +1 elementary charge denoted by the letter e; originated in 1874 by George Stoney |
| Coulomb | a type of unit of electric charge; equivalent of one ampere being steadily transported per one second |
| Statcoulomb | a unit of electric charge in the centimeter-gram-second system of units (cgs) and Gaussian Units |
| Mass | one proton is 1.67 x 10-27 kg |
Learning Outcomes
Finishing this lesson allows you to:
- Define protons and quarks
- Recall how protons can form
- Outline the charge and mass of a proton
