Table of Contents
What is a proton?
A proton is a positively charged particle. It is found inside the nucleus of an atom. Everything in the universe is made up of atoms. These are the tiniest building blocks to all living and non-living things. Many atoms fit together to form molecules.
Every atom has a nucleus which is at its very center. This is where all the atom’s mass is. Inside the nucleus, there are particles. Those that are positively charged are called protons and those that are neutral, or have no charge, are called neutrons.
Circling the nucleus in a kind of orbit are negatively charged particles called electrons.
This is the structure of an atom. So, protons are the most important part of the structure of an atom.
Who discovered protons?
New Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford discovered protons. He fired alpha particles at nitrogen nuclei. When he did this, he saw tiny flashes of light. These flashes of light were hydrogen nuclei. Hydrogen atoms each contain a single positively charged particle and a single negatively changed one.
Rutherford discovered that these flashes of light were the tiny positively charged particles of hydrogen. He concluded that the nuclei of atoms contained these positive particles.
Rutherford first saw the protons being knocked out of nitrogen nuclei in 1918. He named them “protons,” from the Greek word “protos” meaning first.
Why are protons important?
Protons are very important. They are the building blocks of atoms, and atoms are the building blocks of everything in the universe. This includes life.
Protons help to bind an atom’s nucleus together. They add to the atom’s mass. Also, because they are positively charged, they help to keep the negative electrons in orbit around the nucleus.
Protons determine what element an atom is. The number of protons tells us whether an atom is nitrogen, or helium, or copper, or any other element. If the number of protons inside the nucleus changes, so does the type of atom or element.
What can protons be used for?
Protons can be used to treat cancer. They can be fired in a beam at cancer cells. This destroys the cancer cells without harming the body’s cells. They can also be used in imaging to help detect cancers.
Scientists are looking to produce a proton battery. This would be a form of renewable energy and could power things instead of electricity.
Proton beams can be used to detect chemical elements in the environment. This helps to measure pollutants in air, water, and soil.
Protons are also used in the Large Hadron Collider. This is the most powerful particle accelerator in the world. Running protons through the accelerator, scientists can observe their collisions with one another. This can help to explain what happened to matter in the moments after the Big Bang. It is helping scientists to understand how the universe works and what “dark matter” is made up of.
Watch this video to take a look inside the Large Hadron Collider:
Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 7.2
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Glossary
nucleus: the positively charged center of an atom
renewable energy: energy that is generated from a source that is naturally replenished within a relatively short period of time
particle accelerator: a machine that propels charged particles along a beam at very high speeds using electromagnetic fields
Refrences
1. Little House of Science (2023) How much do you know about atoms? https://www.littlehouseofscience.com/10_fascinating__fun_science_facts_about_atoms Accessed on February 28th 2023
2. Wikipedia (2023) Hydrogen Atom. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_atom Accessed on February 28th 2023
3. Lincoln, D. (2022) The Discovery of Proton and Neutron. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/the-discovery-of-proton-and-neutron/ Wondrium Daily. Accessed on February 28th 2023
4. UCSB Science Line (2018) Which subatomic particle is the boss of the atom? http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=6444 Accessed on February 28th 2023
5. Cancer.net (2018) Proton Therapy. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/proton-therapy Accessed on February 28th 2023
6. Andrews, J. (2018) How protons can power our future energy needs. https://theconversation.com/how-protons-can-power-our-future-energy-needs-93124 The Conversation. Accessed on February 28th 2023
7. IAEA (2023) What Are Particle Accelerators? https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-particle-accelerators Accessed on February 28th 2023
8. May, A. and Dobrijevic, D. (2022) The Large Hadron Collider: Inside CERN’s atom smasher. https://www.space.com/large-hadron-collider-particle-accelerator Accessed on February 28th 2023
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