and so if a proton is so larger than an electron doesn't that mean it has a shape? What would be the shape of a subatomic particle? are they spherical?
Does the fact that protons and neutrons have larger mass than electrons mean they're bigger in size?
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$\begingroup$ Related: physics.stackexchange.com/q/53023 $\endgroup$– jinaweeCommented Jan 31, 2014 at 21:02
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2 Answers
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Does the fact that protons and neutrons have larger mass than electrons mean they're bigger in size?
No. The electron and muon are both believed to be "point-like" (which really means smaller than we can measure" despite having $\frac{m_\mu}{m_e} \approx 200$.
That is not to say the proton isn't bigger---it is---but that mass does not imply size in any simple way.
if a proton is so larger than an electron doesn't that mean it has a shape?
Yes. To date, not electric dipole moment has been observed which implies the proton is a sphere to high precision. (Probably I ought to say something about tensor form-factors here, but I'd be out of my depth.)
answered Feb 1, 2014 at 0:05
dmckee --- ex-moderator kittendmckee --- ex-moderator kitten
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If string theory is correct, then the particles will be the shape of one-dimensional objects known as strings.
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$\begingroup$ Note that this is not true for composite objects like protons. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 20:12