Question

Which of these particles has the greatest mass?(1) alpha (3) neutron
(2) beta (4) positron

Answer 1

The particle with the greatest mass among alpha, beta, neutron, and positron is the alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, making it equivalent to a helium nucleus and thus more massive than the single neutron, beta particle, or positron.

Step-by-step explanation:

Out of the given particles - alpha, beta, neutron, and positron - the particle with the greatest mass is the alpha particle. An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, which makes it equivalent to a helium nucleus. This gives the alpha particle a significant mass in comparison to the other particles, especially since beta particles and positrons are considered to have negligible mass. Neutrons do have mass, but a single neutron is less massive than an alpha particle. The mass of a proton is 1.0073 amu and a neutron is 1.0087 amu, thus combining two of each results in the mass of an alpha particle which is far greater than that of a single neutron or the practically massless beta particle or positron.

Answer 2

(1) alpha is your answer. The alpha particle is a Helium nucleus, with two protons and two neutrons. Therefore its larger than the positron or the neutron (because positrons have around the same mass as the proton, being its anti-particle). The beta particle is just the electron, in which the proton is way more massive than the electron.