Proton size may have changed

[Robert A Whit]

http://news.yahoo.com/mysteriously-shrinking-proton-continues-puzzle-physicists-191038291.html

DENVER — The size of a proton, long thought to be well-understood, may remain a mystery for a while longer, according to physicists.
Speaking today (April 13) at the April meeting of the American Physical Society, researchers said they need more data to understand why new measurements of proton size (http://www.livescience.com/26563-shrinking-proton-smaller-measurement.html) don't match old ones.
"The discrepancy is rather severe," said Randolf Pohl, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. The question, Pohl and his colleagues said, is whether the explanation is a boring one — someone messed up the measurements — or something that will generate new physics theories. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Particles in Nature (http://www.livescience.com/13593-exotic-particles-sparticles-antimatter-god-particle.html)]
The incredible shrinking proton
The proton is a positively charged particle in the nucleus of atoms, the building blocks of everything. Years of measurements pegged the proton at 0.8768 femtometers in radius (a femtometer is a millionth of a billionth of a meter).
But a new method used in 2009 found a different measurement: 0.84087 femtometers, a 4 percent difference in radius.
The previous measurements had used electrons, negatively charged particles that circle the nucleus in a cloud, to determine proton radius (http://www.livescience.com/6703-proton-smaller-thought-measurement-finds.html). To make the measurement with electrons, researchers can do one of two things. First, they can fire electrons at protons to measure how the electrons are deflected. This electron-scattering method provides insight into the size of the positively charged proton.

More in article

[aboutime]

Thanks so much for informing all of us about this Proton size Robert.

Don't know whether I would have been able to sleep tonight after worrying about how large, or small a Proton might be.

But. Tomorrow is Sunday, and many of us...I am sure. Will head out for church earlier tomorrow and feel Thankful for Proton sizes.

One question? How will the size of the Proton affect our economy, lifestyle, eating habits, and general well being for the next week?

[Robert A Whit]

Thanks so much for informing all of us about this Proton size Robert.

Don't know whether I would have been able to sleep tonight after worrying about how large, or small a Proton might be.

But. Tomorrow is Sunday, and many of us...I am sure. Will head out for church earlier tomorrow and feel Thankful for Proton sizes.

One question? How will the size of the Proton affect our economy, lifestyle, eating habits, and general well being for the next week?

You are welcome. When you told Cadet he is a science guy, why did you think you understood this post.

Cadet and others will enjoy getting new information.

I wondered if you could last a whole day and behave. Sadly no, you can't do that. Thanks for telling me you plan to go to church. God may forgive you is my hope.

[aboutime]

You are welcome. When you told Cadet he is a science guy, why did you think you understood this post.

Cadet and others will enjoy getting new information.

I wondered if you could last a whole day and behave. Sadly no, you can't do that. Thanks for telling me you plan to go to church. God may forgive you is my hope.


What in the world are you talking about now? You can't even be happy when someone pays you a compliment? And you talk about me behaving??

I'm sorry. I honestly thought I was speaking to someone who needed to be complimented, vs. being the recipient of what you call accusations.
Guess nothing works with you unless you are alone.

[Robert A Whit]

http://www.debatepolicy.com/images/debate_policy/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Robert A Whit http://www.debatepolicy.com/images/debate_policy/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.debatepolicy.com/showthread.php?p=631132#post631132)

You are welcome. When you told Cadet he is a science guy, why did you think you understood this post.

Cadet and others will enjoy getting new information.

I wondered if you could last a whole day and behave. Sadly no, you can't do that. Thanks for telling me you plan to go to church. God may forgive you is my hope.



What in the world are you talking about now? You can't even be happy when someone pays you a compliment? And you talk about me behaving??

I'm sorry. I honestly thought I was speaking to someone who needed to be complimented, vs. being the recipient of what you call accusations.
Guess nothing works with you unless you are alone.

A compliment you claim?

Poor deluded woofer if you truly think you complimented me.

Wait, maybe you are stupid and actually think you paid a compliment.

Protons should not cause you to think of compliments.

[aboutime]

A compliment you claim?

Poor deluded woofer if you truly think you complimented me.

Wait, maybe you are stupid and actually think you paid a compliment.

Protons should not cause you to think of compliments.


Robert. I know you are older than I. So, based on that fact alone. Were you born as dumb as you continually sound, or did you go to a school that taught you to be that way?

Forget anything I said about compliments. You never deserved one, or earned one anyhow.

[Robert A Whit]

Robert. I know you are older than I. So, based on that fact alone. Were you born as dumb as you continually sound, or did you go to a school that taught you to be that way?

Forget anything I said about compliments. You never deserved one, or earned one anyhow.

There was no compliment. Were you smart, you could answer that snotty question you asked.

[taft2012]

Apparently even to nerds, size does matter.

[cadet]

Great, now I have to redue my phys homework...

[logroller]

http://news.yahoo.com/mysteriously-shrinking-proton-continues-puzzle-physicists-191038291.html

DENVER — The size of a proton, long thought to be well-understood, may remain a mystery for a while longer, according to physicists.
Speaking today (April 13) at the April meeting of the American Physical Society, researchers said they need more data to understand why new measurements of proton size (http://www.livescience.com/26563-shrinking-proton-smaller-measurement.html) don't match old ones.
"The discrepancy is rather severe," said Randolf Pohl, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. The question, Pohl and his colleagues said, is whether the explanation is a boring one — someone messed up the measurements — or something that will generate new physics theories. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Particles in Nature (http://www.livescience.com/13593-exotic-particles-sparticles-antimatter-god-particle.html)]
The incredible shrinking proton
The proton is a positively charged particle in the nucleus of atoms, the building blocks of everything. Years of measurements pegged the proton at 0.8768 femtometers in radius (a femtometer is a millionth of a billionth of a meter).
But a new method used in 2009 found a different measurement: 0.84087 femtometers, a 4 percent difference in radius.
The previous measurements had used electrons, negatively charged particles that circle the nucleus in a cloud, to determine proton radius (http://www.livescience.com/6703-proton-smaller-thought-measurement-finds.html). To make the measurement with electrons, researchers can do one of two things. First, they can fire electrons at protons to measure how the electrons are deflected. This electron-scattering method provides insight into the size of the positively charged proton.

More in article
I can see how the weight of protons changing would be significant, size not so much. So I find myself wondering, if the new findings are correct, how significantly the density of a proton affect our understanding of quantum mechanics?

on the lighter side, I watched quantum leap last night on hulu...i forgot how much i enjoy that show.

[Robert A Whit]

I can see how the weight of protons changing would be significant, size not so much. So I find myself wondering, if the new findings are correct, how significantly the density of a proton affect our understanding of quantum mechanics?

on the lighter side, I watched quantum leap last night on hulu...i forgot how much i enjoy that show.

Go back to post 1 and use the link. That is mentioned in the article.

[Robert A Whit]

Apparently even to nerds, size does matter.

Well, in the case or protons it matters per the entire article on protons. Those are parts of an atom I have never seen since they are so small.