What is the role of the neutron in atomic structure?

[mintparasol]

Hi there,
I'm a lay person and would appreciate if anyone could point me in the direction of a good theoretical explanation of the neutron. All I can remember from high school physics is an explanation that went something like:- "Uh, well it doesn't actually do anything, it's just there do make up atomic weight or something"

I'm sure our understanding of the neutron is far more advanced than that and that the neutron is more than just a 'makeweight' in atomic structure.
Any replies greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
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[malawi_glenn]

Wikipedia is a good starting point. And Hyperphysics (http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/ )

 

[mintparasol]

Wikipedia is a good starting point. And Hyperphysics (http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/ )

That link doesn't work

 

[jtbell]

That site's home page isn't where Glenn expected it to be... try this:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/HFrame.html

(which I found by doing a Google search for "hyperphysics")