what has more predictable behavior, a proton or an electron, and why?

a. an electron because of its smaller mass
b. a proton because of its larger mass
c. an electron because it doesn't feel the nuclear force
d. a proton because it doesn't feel the nuclear force
e. an electron because of its smaller charge

my guess is b
thank you

Generally speaking, more massive objects follow the laws of Newtonian mechanics more closely and have less position uncertainty because of their higher momentum, compared to a less massive object with the same velocity. This is a result of the Heisenberg uncertainly principle. Therefore I agree with your answer.

To determine which particle, a proton or an electron, has more predictable behavior, we need to consider a few factors.

First, let's look at the mass of the particle. The mass of an electron is roughly 1/1836 times the mass of a proton. A smaller mass generally leads to more unpredictable behavior because smaller particles are more susceptible to quantum mechanical effects. So, option (a) can be ruled out.

Next, we consider the influence of the nuclear force. Both protons and electrons are affected by the nuclear force. The nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus of an atom together by attracting protons and neutrons. However, electrons orbit around the nucleus in specific energy levels, interacting with both the nuclear force and electromagnetic forces. Thus, option (c) and option (d) are incorrect.

Now let's analyze the charge of the particle. An electron has a negative charge, while a proton has a positive charge. Since both particles are affected by electromagnetic forces, the size of the charge isn't a significant factor in determining predictability. Thus, option (e) can be ruled out.

Considering all the factors, a proton has a larger mass compared to an electron. As mentioned earlier, smaller mass tends to lead to more unpredictable behavior. Therefore, option (b) is the correct choice.

So, your guess is correct: b. a proton because of its larger mass.