The mass of a neutron is approximately what value?

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Multiple Choice

The mass of a neutron is approximately what value?

Explanation:
Mass is expressed in atomic mass units because subatomic particles are compared on the same scale, with carbon-12 defined as exactly 12 amu. A neutron has about the same mass as a proton, around 1.0087 amu, so it’s standard to simplify that to roughly 1 amu. That’s why the correct choice is one atomic mass unit. Having zero mass would be incorrect for a neutron, since it has mass. The electron’s mass is about 1/1840 amu, far lighter than a neutron, so that value doesn’t fit. Two amu would be the mass of two nucleons, not a single neutron.

Mass is expressed in atomic mass units because subatomic particles are compared on the same scale, with carbon-12 defined as exactly 12 amu. A neutron has about the same mass as a proton, around 1.0087 amu, so it’s standard to simplify that to roughly 1 amu. That’s why the correct choice is one atomic mass unit. Having zero mass would be incorrect for a neutron, since it has mass. The electron’s mass is about 1/1840 amu, far lighter than a neutron, so that value doesn’t fit. Two amu would be the mass of two nucleons, not a single neutron.

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