Site icon Vern Bender

Electrons, Positrons, Neutrons, Photons, & Neutrinos

  • Neutrons:  a subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge, present in all atomic nuclei except those of ordinary hydrogen.  Neutrons bind with protons and one another in the nucleus via the nuclear force, effectively moderating the repulsive forces between the protons and stabilizing the nucleus.  Neutrons consist of fundamental particles known as quarks and gluons. Each neutron contains three quarks, as shown in the diagram below. Two of the quarks are called down quarks (d), and the third quark is called an up quark.
  • Photons:  A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation. A photon carries energy proportional to the radiation frequency but has zero rest mass.  In physics, a photon is a bundle of electromagnetic energy. It is the basic unit that makes up all light. The photon is sometimes called a “quantum” of electromagnetic energy. Photons are not thought to be made up of smaller particles.  The photon is a quantum, defined by its positive and negative charge. The EQ consists of a positive charge tightly coupled to a negative charge forming a dipole. The EQ has high energy due to the tight coupling between its charges. A high-energy photon, e.g., gamma radiation, is emitted when this bond is broken.
  • When a photon is emitted or absorbed, it transfers ħ of angular momentum, and the associated energy is also transferred. … The energy transfer between the photon and the electron does not involve the transfer of quantized angular momentum; therefore only part of the photon’s energy can be transferred.  
Exit mobile version