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Topic: What shape are protons, neutrons, and electrons?  (Read 6985 times)

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Offline ChungLing

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What shape are protons, neutrons, and electrons?
« on: April 24, 2011, 02:07:08 AM »
I have looked at various models, Bohr's, Superstring, ect., yet I see no specific mention of the shape or structure of subatomic particles, as they are assumed to be spherical. I would like to challenge this view. Why exactly are they thought to be spherical? I would think they would have no definate shape; a shapeless blob, perhaps moldable like playdough?
If there is evidence for a spherical proton/electron/neutron, please enlighten me. :D

Maybe you think this question is irrelevant, but so far, every single detail about the atom has been vital to our understanding of our universe.

Offline Schrödinger

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Re: What shape are protons, neutrons, and electrons?
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2011, 05:03:03 AM »
The very nature of these sub-atomic particles is at doubt. As quantum mechanics evolved through time, so did the 'accuracy' in describing these sub-atomic 'particles'. They can't be considered as matter, neither can they be described as waves. Hence, trying to figure out their shape is a futile exercise.
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Offline Enthalpy

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Re: What shape are protons, neutrons, and electrons?
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2011, 07:25:21 PM »
...subatomic particles,... are assumed to be spherical.
-> No.

Composite particles like protons and neutrons may have something you may call a shape. Check if chromodynamics tells something about it.

The electron is an elementary particle as far as we know, and as such, the notion of shape depends on the use you wish of the particle.

If you're trying to locate the electron very precisely, which means sensing it with particles of huge energy, you find it's smaller than anything you can achieve, hence people tell it's a point and call it an elementary particle. No form hence.

But if you're trying to know where an electron is in a molecule for instance, then the electron does have a form, which is called an orbital, like 1s, 2s, 2p, or molecular orbitals.

Other uses would define other forms and sizes.

All these particles are waves. You may want (or may not) to call "matter" the fermions, which don't share the same state hence produce some common properties of matter like its volume, and call "interactions" the bosons who can share the same state.

Wikipedia maybe? Particle, electron, proton, neutron, quantum dynamics, orbital, chromodynamics, fermion, boson...

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