answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The two are related, yes, but technically it would be more accurate to say it the other way around:

"Neutrons are heavier than protons because down quarks are heavier than up quarks"

Neutrons are composed of an up quark and two down quarks (udd). Protons are composed of two up quarks and one down quark (uud), so the difference in mass between a proton and neutron is (roughly) the same as the difference in mass between the neutron's down quark and the proton's matching up quark.

Because a down quark is heavier than an up quark, it is also possible for a down quark to decay into an up quark (releasing an electron in the process). This is how beta radiation occurs in atomic nuclei. One of the neutrons' down quarks decays into an up quark, changing that neutron into a proton, and releasing an electron (as radiation), so another way to look at it would be that a down quark is an up quark that has an electron trapped inside it (the mass of the electron, plus the energy required to "trap" it there, is what makes the down quark heavier).

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

A neutron has one up quark, and two down quarks.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is down quark heavier than up quark because neutron is heavier than proton?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why neutron is heavier than proton even though both contain three quarks?

The quark composition is different: - proton: 2 up quarks + 1 down quark - netron: 2 down quarks + 1 up quark The down quark is heavier.


Which is the smallest particle a molecule an atom a proton a neutron or a quark?

A Quark, is the smallest.


3 sub-atomic particles of an atom?

Proton, neutron and electron At a lower level up quark, down quark, and electron


What can protons and neutrons be subdivided into by colliding them?

A proton can be divided into 2 Ups and a Down quark, and a neutron into 2 Downs and an Up quark. In general the quark is the elementary particle from which protons and neutron are formed.


What particle is not located in the nucleus proton electron neutron quark?

The electron.


Protons and neutrons can be subdivided into by colliding them?

A proton can be divided into 2 Ups and a Down quark, and a neutron into 2 Downs and an Up quark. In general the quark is the elementary particle from which protons and neutron are formed.


What particles are released from the nucleus when a down quark changes into an up quark?

When a down quark changes into an up quark in the nucleus, a Nestor is changing into a proton. The particles released (for almost all neutron to proton transformations) are an electron and an electron anti-neutrino.


What do quarks have to do with creating a beta particle?

Beta decay involves changing an up quark into a down quark (Beta+) or a down quark into an up quark (Beta-). This causes a neutron to change into a proton (Beta-) and emit a W- boson which decays into a beta particle (electron and electron antineutrino), or, with extra energy, it causes a proton to change into a neutron (Beta+) which emits a beta particle (positron and electron neutrino). Quarks are involved because protons and neutrons are comprised of quarks in sets of three, two up quarks and one down quark to form a proton, and two down quarks and one up quark to form a neutron.


What are 3 particle's of the atom?

The up quark, the down quark, and the electron. Two up quarks and a down quark form a proton, and two down quarks and an up quark form a neutron.


Which particle has a close mass to proton?

The neutron, which is slightly more massive. The neutron is composed up two down quarks and one up quark (charges of -1/3 and 2/3 [in terms of proton charge], respectively) and the proton is composed of one down quark and two up quarks.


When you add two down quarks and one up quark you get this?

You get a neutron! down+down+up = neutron up+up+down= proton


How could a neutron become a proto n?

A neutron consists of three quarks, a up quark and two down quarks. One of these down quarks can decay into an up quark (which is lighter) and a W- boson. You now have two up quarks and one down quark which makes up a proton! Your neutron has changed into a proton! The W- boson goes on to decay into (probably) an electron and anti-electron neutrino.