Final answer:
The uncharged particle in an atom is the neutron, which is part of the nucleons in the nucleus along with protons. Neutrons are slightly more massive than protons but have no charge, whereas electrons are much less massive and carry negative charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
An uncharged particle within an atom is known as a neutron. Unlike protons, which carry a positive charge, and electrons, which carry a negative charge, neutrons have no charge (q = 0) and are neutral particles. Neutrons and protons are both nucleons and constitute the atomic nucleus. Neutrons are slightly more massive than protons but carry no charge, while electrons are significantly less massive and have a charge equal in magnitude but opposite to that of protons.
The correct answer to the student's question is 'a. neutrons'. When it comes to neutrinos, they are subatomic particles that are also uncharged but are not nucleons; instead, neutrinos are leptons.
In the discovery of quarks, particles that were launched into the proton were electrons, not bosons. Lastly, most objects are considered neutral because the positive and negative charges tend to cancel each other out, leading to no net charge. This balance helps to maintain the neutrality of atoms and objects.