Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe Listener Questions #12
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Jun 19, 2025 Curious listeners submit questions about neutrons, bananas, and Jupiter. The hosts unravel the mysteries of neutron decay and their role in atomic structure, while playfully connecting these concepts to everyone's favorite fruit. Discover the intriguing history and clonal cultivation of bananas, along with challenges they face in the industry. Then, dive into the fascinating world of Jupiter, exploring its gas giant classification and metallic hydrogen. This lively discussion blends science with humor, sparking curiosity and inspiring questions!
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Neutron Structure and Gluons
- Neutrons and protons are made of up and down quarks with different charges.
- Gluons hold quarks together via the strong nuclear force, making neutrons and protons complex bound states.
Why Neutrons Decay
- Neutrons decay by converting a down quark into an up quark through emitting a W-minus particle.
- This process results in a proton, electron, and anti-neutrino, balancing charge and particle counts.
Neutron Stability in Nuclei
- Neutrons inside atomic nuclei are stable because protons and neutrons interact and stabilize each other.
- This residual strong force is crucial for nuclear stability and prevents rapid neutron decay inside atoms.