Explain the properties of subatomic particles and their interactions.

here are the answers to .15:

1. Tell the mass and charge of the fundamental particles of an atom.

   • Proton (P$^{+}$):
     • Mass: $1.673 \times 10^{-27}$ kg or 1.0073 amu
     • Charge: $+1.59 \times 10^{-19}$ C or $+1$ (relative charge)
   • Neutron (n$^{0}$):
     • Mass: $1.675 \times 10^{-27}$ kg or 1.0087 amu
     • Charge: No charge or 0 (relative charge)
   • Electron (e$^{-}$):
     • Mass: $9 \times 10^{-31}$ kg or $5.4858 \times 10^{-4}$ amu
     • Charge: $-1.59 \times 10^{-19}$ C or $-1$ (relative charge)

2. Compare the masses of protons and neutrons.

   • The mass of a proton is approximately $1.673 \times 10^{-27}$ kg (1.0073 amu).
   • The mass of a neutron is approximately $1.675 \times 10^{-27}$ kg (1.0087 amu).
   • Protons and neutrons have very similar masses, with the neutron being slightly heavier than the proton.

3. Compare the charges of electrons and protons.

   • The charge of a proton is $+1.59 \times 10^{-19}$ C (relative charge $+1$).
   • The charge of an electron is $-1.59 \times 10^{-19}$ C (relative charge $-1$).
   • Protons and electrons have charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs.

4. Neutrons are neither attracted to nor repelled from the objects; they don't interact with protons or electrons. Explain?

   • Neutrons have no electric charge (relative charge 0). Electrostatic forces of attraction or repulsion only occur between charged particles. Since neutrons are electrically neutral, they do not experience these forces and therefore do not interact electromagnetically with charged particles like protons and electrons.

5. Why is the mass of an atom depends only on the mass of protons and neutrons?

   • The mass of an electron ($9 \times 10^{-31}$ kg) is significantly smaller than the mass of a proton ($1.673 \times 10^{-27}$ kg) or a neutron ($1.675 \times 10^{-27}$ kg). Specifically, an electron's mass is about $\frac{1}{1836}$ of a proton's mass. Due to this negligible mass contribution, the total mass of an atom is primarily determined by the sum of the masses of its protons and neutrons, which are located in the nucleus.