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neutron: Quick Facts

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Photos and Videos

Diagram of the Bohr atomic model for a nitrogen atom, showing a central nucleus with protons and neutrons, surrounded by two rings of orbiting electrons. Labels identify protons, neutrons, electrons, and electron orbits.
Simple diagrams of protons, neutrons, and pions display yellow quark and green antiquark spheres connected by purple ribbon-like gluons, illustrating the internal structure of these atomic particles.
Figure 13: Nuclear vibratory motion in the giant dipole resonance. Protons and neutrons move in opposite directions.
Diagram showing the sequence of uranium nucleus fission after being struck by a neutron: the nucleus absorbs the neutron, deforms, splits into fragments, releases more neutrons and gamma rays, and emits beta particles as the fragments decay. Labels identify neutrons, protons, beta particles, and gamma rays, with accompanying explanatory text.
atoms
The Structure of an Atom Explained
Why is carbon called the element of life?
What the fission of a uranium nucleus by a neutron looks like
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Key People

James Chadwick
James Chadwick
British physicist
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Bertram N. Brockhouse
Canadian physicist
Luis Alvarez
Luis Alvarez
American physicist
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Walter M. Elsasser
American physicist
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Felix Bloch
American physicist
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Robert Hofstadter
American physicist
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Walther Bothe
German physicist
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Clifford G. Shull
American physicist

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