Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
An atom of calcium-40 has electrons. Each electron has a mass of .
An atom has three kinds of particle. The proton has a charge of and a mass of about . The neutron has no charge and a mass of about . The electron has a charge of and a mass of only . The charge of one proton is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) .
Step 2. (b) .
Answer: (a) about . (b) about , less than three hundredths of one per cent.
What it shows. Almost all the mass of an atom is in its nucleus.
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