A proton and a neutron are both subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. Here are the key differences between the two:
Charge: Protons carry a positive electrical charge, while neutrons are electrically neutral, meaning they have no charge.
Mass: Protons and neutrons have similar masses. The mass of a proton is approximately 1.67262192 × 10^-27 kilograms, and the mass of a neutron is slightly larger, approximately 1.67492749804 × 10^-27 kilograms.
Composition: Protons are composed of two up quarks and one down quark, while neutrons are made up of one up quark and two down quarks. Quarks are elementary particles and are the building blocks of protons, neutrons, and other particles known as hadrons.
Now, regarding their classification as baryons:
Baryons are a type of particle that fall under the broader category of hadrons. Hadrons are particles that interact via the strong nuclear force, which is responsible for holding atomic nuclei together. Baryons specifically are a type of hadron that consists of three quarks.
Both protons and neutrons are baryons since they are composed of quarks. The term "baryon" comes from the Greek word "barys," meaning "heavy," which reflects the relatively high mass of these particles compared to other elementary particles such as electrons.
In summary, the main difference between protons and neutrons lies in their electrical charge and the composition of quarks within them. They are called baryons because they are a type of hadron consisting of three quarks, and they are relatively heavy particles compared to other elementary particles.