What Does
Proton Mean?
Protons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of atoms. The number of protons determines the atomic number of an element, and each element has a unique number of protons in its nucleus. Together with neutrons, protons are also referred to as ‘nucleons’. Each proton has an atomic mass of one and is electrically positively charged.
Safeopedia Explains Proton
Modern particle physics has determined that protons are not individual particles in themselves, but are composed of three smaller particles known as quarks. However, the mass of the quarks does not account for the full mass of the proton. This is determined by the kinetic or movement energy of the quarks and the field that binds the quarks together (the gluon field).