Why don't groups of protons form nuclei without neutrons?
Since the strong nuclear force is stronger than the electrical repulsion, shouldn't 2 or 3 or many protons stick together? Why don't we ever find He-two, or Li-three, or U-92 atoms? Why must two protons also have two neutrons to form a stable He nucleus?
2007-10-24 11:24:56 · 10 answers · asked by Jeffrey K 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
i wish i was smart.
2007-10-24 11:27:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The strong nuclear force isn't quite strong enough to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between two protons. Add a neutron, and you've tripled the net strong force without increasing the electrostatic repulsion. If the strong force were only 2% stronger, the diproton (Helium 2) would be possible.
With 2 protons, you don't need 2 neutrons, just 1. Helium 3 is stable, though it's less common than Helium 4 by a factor of about a million.
2007-10-24 15:44:43 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The strong force is indeed much stronger than the electrostatic. But the strong force exists only between quarks. The force flet between hadrons (protons and neutrons) is the residual strong force. It arises because at close range the distribution of quarks matters - there is a net overlap if you like between the quarks of one proton and an adjacent one.
Because of this the residual strong force does not fall off as an inverse square - it falls off much more rapidly and hence the force only acts over very short ranges.
The electrostatic force prevents you getting protons alone close enough together to give rise to enough residual strong force.
2007-10-24 11:35:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Protons do not "stick together" due to the repulsion of like charges. Also, in general isotopes do exist, whereby the element exists with the same numbers of protons and electrons, but a varying number of neutrons.
2007-10-24 11:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by Stef W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A neutron star contains neutronium, which can be considered a type of atom. Neutronium contains an electron and proton fused together, and is neutrally charged.
2016-05-25 14:54:17 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to this question has yet to be discovered. All we know is that the neutron is what holds atoms together. It is believed that whatever the binding force may be, it lies solely within the neutron itself. We do know that the energy unit must be added at the point of the creation of the neutron. If, anyhow, you ever find the answer to this question, you may make an enormous breakthrough in science.
2007-10-24 11:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by RUTheSame 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1. Protons are only positively charged, so they cannot stick together
2. IDK
3. In order for He (noble gas) it must have a neutral (or zero) charge. So for each 2 protons ( 2 protons = +2) there must be 2 electrons (2 electrons = -2). so +2 + -2 = 0.
2007-10-24 11:30:39 · answer #7 · answered by mayoandketchup 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
...well ....what I heard is that that the strong Alpha Proton is considering joining the Crips gang .... the weaker protons thinks that's awful but since they aren't going to hang out any more they would like to and see a Broadway show
2007-10-24 11:29:49 · answer #8 · answered by Ronatnyu 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Neutrons do add mass to the nucleus.
If not electric attraction they still increase gravity attraction.
It may be week, but not 0.
Just by logic, maybe I am wrong.
Please check it out.
2007-10-24 11:33:31 · answer #9 · answered by PragmaticAlien 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
thats just they way it is,positives go with negatives.
2007-10-24 11:27:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋