How come the protons in the nucleus of an atom do not spin around like the electrons do?

Answer 1

They absolutely do.

Just like electrons, necleons (protons and neutrons) have intrinsic (spin) angular momentum. Just like electrons, the nucleons may or may not have orbital angular momentum. So they might dance around each other or they might not.

The difference is that because their mass is greater (and the nuclear force that binds them is stronger and has a slightly different form), they are packed in tighter. But they are doing basically the same sort of dance with each other that electrons do around the nucleus.

Also worth noting is that when electrons orbit the nucleus, what is technically happening is that both the electrons and the nucleus are orbiting the center of mass. So the electron might move a lot but the nucleus just kind of undulates a bit because it's bigger. The same thing happens with the earth and moon or anything else. This results in the electrons seeming to have an effective mass in the orbit calculation slightly different than their actual mass.

Answer 2

If you mean why are all the protons in the middle with the electrons moving around them, the following explanation might help:

The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are made of elementary particles called quarks. Quarks feel a force that electrons do not - the strong nuclear force. It is this force which holds the protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. Electrons do not literally orbit the nucleus as is sometimes depicted. This is just the easiest way to picture it. Really they exist in a sort of cloud around the nucleus.

But perhaps you are talking about the "spin" property of electrons, sometimes pictured as the particle spinning on its own axis. If this is what you are referring to then the answer is that protons (and neutrons) do spin. The property of spin is the same for electrons and for protons. They are both "spin 1/2 particles". This is a property that tells us about the quantum mechanical behaviour of the particle and behaves mathematically in the same way as angular momentum..

Answer 3

Perhaps you mean, why don't they move about in an orbit as do the electrons. It appears as though this may actually happen - the neutrons and protons sharing the same orbit as do the electrons. There is a writing that is short and easy to read at http://360.yahoo.com/noddarc that is entitled "A New Atomic Theory" that promotes this concept. There is no reason why this would not happen if the frequency of all the mass involved were of the same frequency.

Answer 4

If you are talking about the spin of electrons, then you must note that protons also have a spin associated with them. Like electrons, the spin of protons is also (+) or (-) 1/2. (The half spin nature is due to the fact that they also are fermions.)

Answer 5

Neither electrons nor protons "psin".

The property termed spin is misnamed, because it was identified before its source was understood and was assumed to arise from a rotating electrical charge. In fact, spin arises from relativistic effects on the quantum state of the particles and has nothing to do with spinning at all.

Answer 6

neutrons and protons make up the nulues, so wen the nucleus does not revolve, how can the protons revolve?? and electrons revolve cuz they r outside the nucleus!

Answer 7

Bcoz velocity of proton is very-very less than velocity of light so, it can not come out of the nucleus and remain in nucleus bind with nuetron....

The above explanation was be described by uncertainty principle

Answer 8

electrons have a magnetical pull that lets them spin protons do not

Answer 9

Actully the whole nucleus also spins but not around anything else as there is nothing else there (or is not known).

Answer 10

protons are in middle of the cell ..
if any object in gravity - centered it does not viewed as revolution rather a rotation .
Relative theory based:
electron revolve with respect to proton. proton is stationary with respect to itself!