- NEW!
by Roger Kovaciny on October 10th, 2005
What you probably have in mind is particles you can visualize, in which case a proton would be as good an answer as any. The electron, when acting as a particle, is the same size but 1837 times lighter; but the electron acts as a wave much of the time so it's harder to visualize. Many of the other subatomic particles, such as quarks and gluons, can hardly be visualized even by nuclear physicists, but as long as the equations balance, the concepts are useful.
The proton is 1/100,000th the diameter of an atom, and the atom is unimaginably small. Think of it this way: You have 50 trillion cells in your body. Of the needed elements in each cell, cobalt is present one hundred millionth as often as other elements, and only as part of the huge Vitamin B-12 molecule. And yet there are 450,000 atoms of cobalt in the average cell!
The human body is like an onion. Every time you think you get to the bottom layer, there's another layer to be investigated.
How much radioactive material can spill into the Pacific Ocean before the ocean is polluted? Not enough nuclear reactors in the world?
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on April 4th, 2011
| 3 people like this
Someone verify this for me please...
by Benjamin_M on May 1st, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What happened to string theory?
by yhtomit91 on January 3rd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
How long does it take for a nuclear reactor to cool down naturally even if the coolant supply fails?
by anil m on March 17th, 2011
| 2 people like this
How fast does a blast wave from a nuke travel?
by Zack on April 25th, 2011
| 2 people like this
You're reading What is the smallest subatomic particle?
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!
Comments
Your last line hit it. As our technology advances, we will undoubted find there is no limit to the subdivided particles.
by TulsaDavid on October 12th, 2005
In no way can a proton be considered to be the same size as an electron. A proton is a combination of three quarks.
by Quirkie on November 28th, 2005