Single Idea 21106

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / e. Protons]

Full Idea

The quarks provide very little of the total mass of a proton, and the fields created by the virtual particles contribute most of the energy that goes into the proton's rest energy and, hence, its mass.

Gist of Idea

Most of the mass of a proton is the energy in virtual particles (rather than the quarks)

Source

Lawrence M. Krauss (A Universe from Nothing [2012], 04)

Book Reference

Krauss,Lawrence M.: 'A Universe from Nothing' [Simon and Schuster 2012], p.70


A Reaction

He gives an artist's impression of the interior of a proton, which looks like a ship's engine room.