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Trexman89
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First of all, do you believe the new measurements are accurate and the proton is actually 4% smaller. If you do, What implications do you think this will have?
Trexman89 said:First of all, do you believe the new measurements are accurate and the proton is actually 4% smaller. If you do, What implications do you think this will have?
stevenb said:Hmmm, the old "does size matter?" question. Why not ask the electron, since she is his natural mate?
Acut said:Hm, I've always thought quantum mechanics didn't allow precise length measurements.
If it is hard to define what is the size of an atom, I'm wondering how to define a proton's size.
Where have you found this news?
Its an operational definition, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_radiusAcut said:I meant to say "precise length measurements of the proton". At such small scales, it is hard to define boundaries.
Acut said:By the way, I forgot asking... @ OP: where have you read about those new measurements?
The new proton measurements being 4% smaller have significant implications for our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of matter. It suggests that the current model of the proton may need to be revised, and could potentially lead to new discoveries in the field of particle physics.
The new proton measurements were obtained using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Scientists used a technique called "deep inelastic scattering" to study the internal structure of protons and determine their size.
A 4% decrease in proton size could have implications for the rest of the atomic structure, as the size of the proton is a key factor in determining the size and properties of atoms. It could potentially impact our understanding of atomic nuclei, electron orbitals, and the overall stability of atoms.
While the discovery of smaller proton measurements may not have immediate practical applications, it could lead to a better understanding of the fundamental forces at work in our universe. This could potentially lead to new technologies and advancements in the future.
Further research is needed to confirm and validate these new proton measurements, as well as to understand the implications for other areas of physics. Scientists will continue to study the data from the LHC and conduct experiments to gain a better understanding of the proton's size and structure.