Protons, neutrons, and over 100 other particles {baryon}|, such as lambda, sigma, delta, cascade, omega, and upsilon, share properties. Baryons have baryon number 1, while other particles have baryon number 0. Baryons have three quarks.
Particles {hyperon} similar to protons and neutrons can have higher masses. Hyperons have masses 2 to 10 times proton mass. Hyperons have charge -1, 0, +1, or +2. Hyperons have spin 1/2 or 3/2. Hyperons have lifetime 10^-23 to 10^-10 seconds. Hyperons have three quarks and are baryons.
Particles {neutron}| similar to protons in mass have no charge. Neutron has three quarks, two down and one up. Free neutrons have lifetime 1000 seconds before they decay to proton. Neutrons in atoms are stable, because, in nuclei, strong nuclear force lowers neutron energy, so neutrons do not decay.
The main and lowest-energy baryon {proton}| is mainly in atomic nuclei. Proton has three quarks, two up and one down. Proton mass is 10^-24 grams. Protons have infinite lifetime. However, if superweak nuclear force exists, lifetime is 10^31 years.
5-Physics-Matter-Particle-Subatomic-Fermion
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Date Modified: 2022.0225