Atoms

[MJFan101]

Hey All
I am new to the answer bank so I am sorry if this is posted in the wrong area.
My neighbor and I were talking and one thing lead to other then we got on the topic of Science (don't ask how I am not sure) Anyways we got talking about Atoms and were wondering about the location, charge and relative mass of each particle found in an atom. We both like science very much and so could someone please help us out with that question it would be great if you could.
Thanks So Much,
~MJFan101~

[mollykins]

Neutrons have no charge, relative mass 1, found in the nucleus.
Protons have a positive charge and rm of 1, found in the nucleus.
Electrons are negatively charged and rm of almost very nearly 0, orbits in shells around the nucleus (2.8.8.16 . . .).

[R1Geezer]

....and the really interesting thing is that 99.999999% of an atom is empty space!

[New Judge]

This earlier question may be of interest:

http://www.theanswerb...e/Question979997.html

[squarebear]

If a proton has a positive charge, how come they stick together in the nucleus and don't repel each other.

[Calibax]

^
Beacause the strong nuclear force is stronger than the repulsion of the electro-magnetic force

[squarebear]

I bow to your superior knowledge.

[Old_Geezer]

As I understand it, to say the electron obits is a bit of a simplification also. According to quantum physics the position of the electron isn't defined until you look for it, in which case most of the time it is all over the sphere the relevant distance from the atom centre at the same time. Yeah, blows my mind too. It's really weird down in the small stuff.

[joggerjayne]

Further to Geezer pointing out that most of an atom is empty space ...

If you took the solid matter from all the atoms that make up every person living on the planet ...

... it would be the size of a tennis ball !!

That's jolly, isn't it.

Oh, and the tennis ball would, of course, weigh the same as 6,000,000,000 humans.

[jomifl]

errrm .. JJ what do you mean by solid matter?

[New Judge]

I think jayne means the protons, neutrons and electrons. With all the space between the nucleus and the electrons eliminated the sort of super-density that is believed to exist in neutron stars is what jayne is referring to.