2007-01-23 13:42:11 · 6 answers · asked by kittykathunk 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I assume you mean move around the nucleus, as opposed to in an electrical conductor. The nucleus does "move" or, more properly, have a finite kinetic energy distribution in response to the orbitals of the electrons it's bound too. Its characteristic speed and location, though, is thousands of times slower, and distributed more compactly due to its larger mass. A good analogy is planetary motion around the sun. The sun's center actually orbits about the center of mass of the sun and Jupiter, with smaller perturbations from the other planets.
That said, protons and neutrons within the nucleus are tightly bound into a compact space, but they do buzz around inside energetically in orbitals not too dissimilar in nature to electron orbitals, just more compactly and at higher speed. Their orbitals are even described by a similar shell model.
2007-01-23 16:02:02 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electrons are held in an atom by a very weak force. protons and neutrons are held in the nucleus by a strong nuclear force. separating the protons and neutrons would destroy the atom thereby converting the atoms mass into energy ie. E+MC^2. This in the principal involved in nuclear reactions. So technically protons and neutrons can move, but I don't want to be around when there are a lot of them doing so.
2007-01-23 21:55:16 · answer #2 · answered by CJ5Jake 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protons and neutrons are bound to the nucleus, electrons are not. Sometimes they are also bound in their orbits, but there is a class of elements whose electrons are not necessarily bound tightly to their nuclei and they are free to move from one atom to the next if given the 'push' to do so. These atoms belong to elements considered conductors.....metals.
Simply speaking. :)
2007-01-23 21:47:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electrons are much smaller and located outside the nucleus of the atom. They areas they travel in are called orbitals.
2007-01-23 21:46:40 · answer #4 · answered by Katie B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH, but they do. everything is always in motion. even the remotest objects have kinetic energy. something at absolute zero is still associated with something largers gravity, making it a part of its motion.
really weird, no one has ever seen an electron, yet all we ever see of any atom are it's electrons.( its electron cloud)
2007-01-23 21:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protons (+ charges) are held in place by neutrons (no charges).
Electrons are not held in place by anything, they are free to roam anywhere they are attracted or repeled. That's why we have compounds and such...
2007-01-23 21:46:23 · answer #6 · answered by Mafia 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋