The concept of mass and electric charge are distinct properties of subatomic particles. While it is true that some particles, like protons, possess both mass and electric charge, these properties are independent of each other.
Mass refers to the intrinsic property of matter that determines its resistance to acceleration when a force is applied. It is a fundamental property of particles and is a measure of the amount of matter contained within the particle. Mass is typically measured in units such as kilograms (kg) or atomic mass units (u).
Electric charge, on the other hand, is a fundamental property associated with particles that determines their interaction with electromagnetic fields. Electric charge can be positive or negative, and particles with the same charge repel each other, while particles with opposite charges attract each other. Electric charge is typically measured in units of coulombs (C) or elementary charge (e), where the charge of an electron is -1e and the charge of a proton is +1e.
In the case of protons, they have a positive electric charge of +1e and a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (u). The positive charge of a proton is due to the presence of fundamental particles called quarks within the proton, which carry fractional electric charges. The combination of these quark charges results in the overall positive charge of the proton.
It's important to note that while protons have a positive charge, electrons, which are another subatomic particle, have a negative charge. The charges of protons and electrons are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign. The net charge of an object is determined by the balance of positively and negatively charged particles it contains.
In summary, an object can possess both mass and electric charge simultaneously because these are distinct properties of particles. The mass of a particle determines its resistance to acceleration, while its electric charge determines its interaction with electromagnetic fields. Protons, for example, have both mass and a positive electric charge.