What is the Difference Between Neutron and Neutrino?

Neutrons and neutrinos are two different types of subatomic particles with distinct properties and characteristics. The main differences between them are:

1. Composition: Neutrons are made of quarks, specifically one up quark and two down quarks, and are classified as hadrons. On the other hand, neutrinos are fundamental particles, meaning they are not made of any other particles and are classified as leptons.
2. Mass: Neutrons have a mass of about 1.7×10^-27 kg, while neutrinos are extremely light particles with a mass of about 10^-37 kg.
3. Electric Charge: Both neutrons and neutrinos carry no electric charge, making them neutral particles.
4. Location: Neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom and are a type of nucleon, composed of protons and neutrons. Neutrinos, however, are not found in the nucleus and are not closely related to protons or neutrons.
5. Interactions: Neutrons interact with matter fairly often due to their mass. Neutrinos, on the other hand, interact very weakly with matter and are affected only by the weak nuclear force and gravity. They are so weakly interacting that billions of them pass through us in seconds with very little effect.

In summary, neutrons are large, made of quarks, and found in the atomic nucleus, while neutrinos are tiny, single particles with almost no effect, extremely weak interactions, and very little mass.

Comparative Table: Neutron vs Neutrino

Here is a table summarizing the differences between neutrons and neutrinos:

In summary, neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom and have no charge, while neutrinos are neutral, extremely light particles that interact only via the weak interaction and gravity.