Why are protons in the nucleus and electrons aren't?

[FerN61]

Homework Statement

Why are protons in the nucleus and electrons aren't??

The Attempt at a Solution

So this is the question I was asked. I understand that protons are held together by nuclear (or strong) force. I understand that an atom is stable because there's an equilibrium between this nuclear force and the electrostatic force caused by the repulsion between the protons. I also understand that for electrons to exist they must keep moving to keep a certain amount of energy, and that that is related to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. But I don't really know what my professor expects me to get at with this question, and reading introductions to quantum mechanics have just made me more confused. Is there a property or principle I'm missing??

 

[Simon Bridge]

So this is the question I was asked. I understand that protons are held together by nuclear (or strong) force.

Good start - do electrons feel the strong nuclear force?
What forces do electrons feel?

I understand that an atom is stable because there's an equilibrium between this nuclear force and the electrostatic force caused by the repulsion between the protons. I also understand that for electrons to exist they must keep moving to keep a certain amount of energy,..

Well, electrons can exist at rest ... the atomic electrons do have quite a high energy though, and that has something to do with the potential they move in. Electrons in a container have a minimum energy level.

...and that that is related to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. But I don't really know what my professor expects me to get at with this question, and reading introductions to quantum mechanics have just made me more confused. Is there a property or principle I'm missing??

For a QM course - I imagine you will want an answer in terms of the energy levels of a potential. For instance, an atom can be bind a muon in the same way as it binds electrons ... but a muon can be inside the nucleus. What's the difference?

If this were a nuclear physics course I ask you to consider what happens to electrons inside the nucleus.