proton

[proh-ton] /ˈproʊ tɒn/

noun, Physics, Chemistry

a positively charged elementary particle that is a fundamental constituent of all atomic nuclei. It is the lightest and most stable baryon, having a charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron, a spin of ½, and a mass of 1.673 × 10− ²⁷ kg. Symbol: P.

Origin

1915-20; noun use of Greek prôton, neuter of prôtos first

Related forms

protonic, adjective

Examples from the web for protons

Most people learned in school that these particles are atoms, composed of neutrons, protons and electrons.
Nevertheless, the idea that protons as well as electrons can quantum tunnel is a striking one.
Most so-called normal matter is made of subatomic particles such as electrons and protons.
The newly installed antiproton beam begins to collide with the protons.
By definition, every atom of a given element has a specific number of protons in its nucleus.
Unable to calculate a radius directly from theory, physicists have measured protons in different ways.
For a nucleus to spin at all, the total number of protons and neutrons it contains must be odd.
Even on a calm day, the sun emits a mighty solar wind, a stream of protons and heavy elements racing through space.
Known as cosmic rays, the particles are mostly protons blasted out of supernovae.
Today's accelerators can bring protons to much higher energies than they can electrons.

British Dictionary definitions for protons

proton

/ˈprəʊtɒn/

noun

a stable, positively charged elementary particle, found in atomic nuclei in numbers equal to the atomic number of the element. It is a baryon with a charge of 1.602176462 × 10–19 coulomb, a rest mass of 1.672 62159 × 10–27 kilogram, and spin 1/2

Word Origin

C20: from Greek prōtos first

Word Origin and History for protons

proton

1920 in physics, coined by English physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) from noun use of Greek proton, neuter of protos "first" (see proto-), on analogy of electron; supposedly because hydrogen was hypothesized as a constituent of all the elements. The word was used earlier in embryology (1893) as a translation of German anlage ("fundamental thing") based on Aristotle's phrase he prote ousia to proton.

protons in Medicine

proton pro·ton (prō'tŏn')
n.
A stable, positively charged subatomic particle in the baryon family having a mass 1,836 times that of the electron.

protons in Science

proton

(prō'tŏn')
A stable subatomic particle in the baryon family having a mass of 1.672 × 10^-24 grams (1,836 times that of the electron) and a positive electric charge of approximately 1.602 × 10^-19 coulombs. Protons make up part of the nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen, whose nucleus consists of a single proton. In neutral atoms, the number of protons is the same as the number of electrons. In positively charged atoms, the number of protons is greater than the number of electrons, and in negatively charged atoms electrons outnumber protons. Protons are believed to be composed of two up quarks and one down quark. See Table at subatomic particle.

protons in Culture

proton [(proh-ton)]

An elementary particle with a positive charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Note: A proton is over a thousand times heavier than an electron.

Note: Protons and neutrons make up most of an atom's mass.