Nucleon

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A nucleon is a proton or a neutron, which make up the atomic nucleus.

Nucleons are subatomic particles composed of three quarks and so are baryons. The quarks are held together by gluons, the bearers of the strong nuclear force. A proton consists of 2 up quarks and 1 down quark. A neutron consists of 1 up quark and 2 down quarks.

B a r y o n s A n t i b a r y o n s

N u c l e o n s

p
proton n
neutron p̅
antiproton n̅
antineutron