User:Edguy99/Nuclear Physics

Protons and Neutrons

1. Proton shells consist of 3 layers of charge or quarks such that the net difference in charge between quarks is one. Specifically, a proton consists of +2/3, -1/3 and +2/3 layers or quarks in that order.
2. Neutron shells are the same size and mass as proton shells but with zero charge. Their quarks or layers are arranged as -1/3 +2/3 -1/3 when the neutron is acting as an insulator between two protons. Neutron shells can also exist with the charge/quark distribution of +2/3 -1/3 -1/3. This is common when the neutron is by itself or stacked with other neutrons.

Forms of Hydrogen - Isotopes

Only certain combinations of proton/neutron stacks are stable over time. For simplicity, we refer to the -1/3 as a down quark and a +2/3 as an up quark. Hydrogen with one proton is Up/Down/Up, charge is +1. Deuterium with one neutron is Up/Down/Up Down/Up/Down, charge is +1. Tritium (the most unstable) is Up/Down/Up Down/Up/Down Up/Down/Down and again the charge is +1.

Building heavier elements - the Strong force

Heavier elements are built with layers of proton shells seperated by neutron shells. The protons remain the same size, but the layering allows for much heavier and higher charges. Shells of protons and neutrons are held together with the strong force. Pictures shown here have exaggerated shell thickness compared to their overall size which is 53 picometer radius.

• Helium - Two Proton shells seperated by a neutron
  Helium - Two Proton shells seperated by a neutron

Again, only certain combinations of proton/neutron stacks are stable. Two examples of unstable nuclei are shown on the right. Helium5 with two protons and three neutrons does not have enough charge to hold the structure up, whereas Lithium5 with three protons and only two neutrons has too much charge for the weight of the structure to hold it together.

Nuclear decay - the Weak force

Changes in quarks are determined by the weak force. A free neutron will decay to a proton and an electron (plus charge carriers) as the outside charge builds up and the inside charge collapses. The process takes about 10 minutes. The illustations below show the decay of Carbon14 isotope to Nitrogen14 with arrows pointing to the quark change. The half-life for Carbon14 is 5730 years.

• 
  Carbon12/13/14 Isotopes
• 
  Nitrogen13/14/15 Isotopes

See Also

• Matter and Energy

• Building organic molecules

• Understanding nuclear forces

• Carbon bonding chains