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Multiple Choice
Which of the following has negligible mass?
A
Proton
B
Neutron
C
Atom
D
Electron
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the basic structure of an atom, which consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Recall that protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus of an atom and have significant mass. Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons are neutral.
Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in electron shells. They have a much smaller mass compared to protons and neutrons.
The mass of an electron is approximately 1/1836 of the mass of a proton, which is why it is considered to have negligible mass in comparison to protons and neutrons.
Therefore, when comparing the mass of protons, neutrons, and electrons, electrons are the ones with negligible mass.