How many strings make up protons, neutrons, and electrons?

In summary, protons and neutrons are both made up of three quarks and are not composed of strings. Similarly, electrons are considered to be fundamental particles with no internal structure. While string theory proposes that strings may play a role in atomic structure, it is still a theoretical concept and has not been proven. Therefore, there are currently no known particles that are made up of strings.
  • #1
marshallmeyer1
14
0
So I understand that:

Protons= 2 up quarks and a down quark... and
Neutrons= an up quark and 2 down quarks... and
Electrons are not made of quarks (so small!)

So my questions are:

1.) According the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, we don't know how many strings (according to string theory) make up electrons, correct? Please, someone, candor is appreciated if I'm wrong.

2.) And how many strings make up a proton, a neutron, an up quark, and a down quark?

I would imagine that if the number of strings making a an up quark were represented by U and the number of strings making up a down quark were represented by D then the formulas for strings in protons and neutrons would look like...

P=2U+D
N=2D+U

Sorry; these questions are rudimentary, and if the amount of quarks making up neutrons and protons are unknown, then I'll feel like quite a fool for asking this.
 
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  • #2
Welcome to the forum!
1.) The HUP doesn't have anything to do with strings. It has to do with the uncertainty in measuring the position and momentum of a particle.
2.) In string theory, particles are not points but strings. So each quark would be composed of 1 string.
Hope this helps.
 
  • #3
Each elementary particle is a single string.

The HUP has to do with repeated measurements of some particle [wave] characteristics, say position and momentum. If you repeat the same sequence of arbitrarily precise measurements on a large numbers of identically prepared particles the measurements are not all identical as would be expected classically; instead the measurements form a probability distribution of different values.
 
  • #4
Just to be a little more specific, you can measure the position very precisely but the momentum will be uncertain, or you can measure the momentum very precisely but the position will be uncertain. You just cannot measure both precisely, simultaneously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle
 
  • #5
tensor33 said:
2.) In string theory, particles are not points but strings. So each quark would be composed of 1 string.
Hope this helps.
How does a string turning into a particle work?
 
  • #6
This thread is over 2 years old. If anyone wants to discuss this topic, please start a new thread.
 

1. How many strings make up a proton?

A proton is made up of three quarks, which are elementary particles that are bound together by gluons. Therefore, a proton is not made up of strings.

2. How many strings make up a neutron?

A neutron is also made up of three quarks, just like a proton. Again, a neutron is not made up of strings.

3. How many strings make up an electron?

An electron is a fundamental particle, meaning it is not made up of smaller particles or strings. It is considered a point particle, with no internal structure.

4. Do strings have any role in the atomic structure?

The concept of strings is part of string theory, which is a theoretical framework that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. While it is an intriguing theory, it is still being studied and has not been proven to be a fundamental part of the atomic structure.

5. Are there any particles that are made up of strings?

As mentioned before, string theory is still being studied and has not been proven to be a fundamental part of the atomic structure. Therefore, there are currently no known particles that are made up of strings.

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