Question

Which statement is true about a proton and an electron?

a) "A proton carries a positive charge, while an electron carries a negative charge."
b) "A proton and an electron both have similar masses."
c) "A proton orbits around the nucleus, while an electron resides within the nucleus."
d) "A proton and an electron both have the same charge."

Answer 1

A proton carries a positive charge, and an electron carries a negative charge, both with equal magnitudes but opposite signs. A proton has a much greater mass than an electron, and while protons reside in the nucleus, electrons orbit around it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about a proton and an electron is: "A proton carries a positive charge, while an electron carries a negative charge."

Protons and electrons are the fundamental particles that carry electric charge. A proton carries a positive charge of +1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, and an electron has a negative charge of −1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C. Although their charge magnitudes are equal, they have opposite signs.

Additionally, protons are much heavier than electrons, approximately 1836 times, and have a significant role in determining the atomic mass of an atom. Unlike protons, which reside in the nucleus, electrons orbit around the nucleus, and in a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.