I’m trying to simply things in dummy terms so I remember it easier rather than memorizing a definition I want to understand it on a basic level. A Neutron is an uncharged elementary particle that equals a protons mass in a nucleus this stabilizing it, I also know that in an atom there has to be equal amounts of neutrons and protons, and that the neutrons act as a sort of binder, so what sort of analogy or explanation could be used to describe it? Does a Neutron sort of act like the Mortar for a Brick Structure? Or like the glue that keeps protons from falling apart?
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Protons are positively charged. Just like magnets, positive repels positive. The “strong nuclear force” attracts protons and allows them to bind in an atom’s nucleus despite them being of the same charge, but the more protons you have, the stronger that repelling force is, eventually overcoming the strong force. The neutrons are also attracted to the protons by the strong force, but are not repelled by electromagnetism since they have no net charge. Having neutrons and protons instead of just protons “allows” atoms to be bigger (higher atomic number) because it increases the strong force interactions in the nucleus without adding charge which would try to push the nucleus apart.
TL:DR protons push each other apart because they have the same charge, neutrons help pull protons together with more force than is pushing them apart
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