What does neutron mean?

Definitions for neutron
ˈnu trɒn, ˈnyu-neu·tron

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word neutron.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. neutronnoun

    an elementary particle with 0 charge and mass about equal to a proton; enters into the structure of the atomic nucleus

Wiktionary

  1. neutronnoun

    A subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and having no charge; it is a combination of an up quark and two down quarks

    Symbol: n

Wikipedia

  1. Neutron

    The neutron is a subatomic particle, symbol n or n0, which has a neutral (not positive or negative) charge, and a mass slightly greater than that of a proton. Protons and neutrons constitute the nuclei of atoms. Since protons and neutrons behave similarly within the nucleus, and each has a mass of approximately one atomic mass unit, they are both referred to as nucleons. Their properties and interactions are described by nuclear physics. Protons and neutrons are not elementary particles; each is composed of three quarks. The chemical properties of an atom are mostly determined by the configuration of electrons that orbit the atom's heavy nucleus. The electron configuration is determined by the charge of the nucleus, which is determined by the number of protons, or atomic number. The number of neutrons is the neutron number. Neutrons do not affect the electron configuration, but the sum of atomic and neutron numbers is the mass of the nucleus. Atoms of a chemical element that differ only in neutron number are called isotopes. For example, carbon, with atomic number 6, has an abundant isotope carbon-12 with 6 neutrons and a rare isotope carbon-13 with 7 neutrons. Some elements occur in nature with only one stable isotope, such as fluorine; Other elements occur with many stable isotopes, such as tin with ten stable isotopes, and some elements such as technetium have no stable isotope. The properties of an atomic nucleus depend on both atomic and neutron numbers. With their positive charge, the protons within the nucleus are repelled by the long-range electromagnetic force, but the much stronger, but short-range, nuclear force binds the nucleons closely together. Neutrons are required for the stability of nuclei, with the exception of the single-proton hydrogen nucleus. Neutrons are produced copiously in nuclear fission and fusion. They are a primary contributor to the nucleosynthesis of chemical elements within stars through fission, fusion, and neutron capture processes. The neutron is essential to the production of nuclear power. In the decade after the neutron was discovered by James Chadwick in 1932, neutrons were used to induce many different types of nuclear transmutations. With the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, it was quickly realized that, if a fission event produced neutrons, each of these neutrons might cause further fission events, in a cascade known as a nuclear chain reaction. These events and findings led to the first self-sustaining nuclear reactor (Chicago Pile-1, 1942) and the first nuclear weapon (Trinity, 1945). Dedicated neutron sources like neutron generators, research reactors and spallation sources produce free neutrons for use in irradiation and in neutron scattering experiments. A free neutron spontaneously decays to a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino, with a mean lifetime of about 15 minutes. Free neutrons do not directly ionize atoms, but they do indirectly cause ionizing radiation, so they can be a biological hazard, depending on dose. A small natural "neutron background" flux of free neutrons exists on Earth, caused by cosmic ray showers, and by the natural radioactivity of spontaneously fissionable elements in the Earth's crust.

ChatGPT

  1. neutron

    A neutron is a subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom. It has no electrical charge and has a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. Together with protons, neutrons make up almost all of the atomic mass. Neutrons play a key role in nuclear reactions, such as nuclear fission.

Wikidata

  1. Neutron

    The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol n or n0, no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen-1, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of protons in a nucleus is the atomic number and defines the type of element the atom forms. Neutrons are necessary within an atomic nucleus as they bind with protons via the nuclear force; protons are unable to bind with each other because their mutual electromagnetic repulsion is stronger than the attraction of the nuclear force. The number of neutrons is the neutron number and determines the isotope of an element. For example, the abundant carbon-12 isotope has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while the very rare radioactive carbon-14 isotope has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. While bound neutrons in nuclei are stable, free neutrons are unstable; they undergo beta decay with a mean lifetime of just under 15 minutes. Free neutrons are produced in nuclear fission and fusion. Dedicated neutron sources like neutron generators, research reactors and spallation sources produce free neutrons for use in irradiation and in neutron scattering experiments. Even though it is not a chemical element, the free neutron is sometimes included in tables of nuclides.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce neutron?

How to say neutron in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of neutron in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of neutron in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of neutron in a Sentence

  1. Natasha Hurley-Walker:

    It's a type of slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted to exist theoretically, but nobody expected to directly detect one like this because we didn't expect them to be so bright. Somehow it's converting magnetic energy to radio waves much more effectively than anything we've seen before.

  2. Todd Thompson:

    Were showing this hint that there is another population out there that we have yet to really probe in the search for black holes, people are trying to understand supernova explosions, how supermassive black stars explode, how the elements were formed in supermassive stars. So if we could reveal a new population of black holes, it would tell us more about which stars explode, which dont, which form black holes, which form neutron stars. It opens up a new area of study.

  3. Todd Thompson:

    People are trying to understand supernova explosions, how supermassive black stars explode, how the elements were formed in supermassive stars, so if we could reveal a new population of black holes, it would tell us more about which stars explode, which don't, which form black holes, which form neutron stars. It opens up a new area of study.

  4. Nanda Rea:

    Maybe if we understand the formation story of these objects, well understand why there is such a huge difference between the number of magnetars weve found and the total number of known neutron stars.

  5. Abhay Ashtekar:

    Gravitational waves are literally ripples in the curvature of space-time that are caused by collisions of heavy and compact objects like black holes and neutron stars.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

neutron#10000#15284#100000

Translations for neutron

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for neutron »

Translation

Find a translation for the neutron definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"neutron." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/neutron>.

Discuss these neutron definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for neutron? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    neutron

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    malicious satisfaction
    A huff
    B monish
    C aberrate
    D gloat

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for neutron: