Text: Because neutrons and protons within an atomic nucleus have similar properties, especially from a theoretical point of view, the term nucleon is often applied to both. The characteristic of neutrons by which they are able to transform into the proton state inside and outside the nucleus, and the ability of protons to transform into neutrons within the nucleus, ties these two particles together as different aspects of a more basic structure. The investigation of the nucleon structure is now one of the most challenging problems of nuclear physics.

See Also: PROTON; NEUTRAL CENTER; NEUTRAL NEGATIVE ATTRACTION

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