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Name: Robert
Status: student
Age: 18
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
I read that the electron is a point particle. This makes sense if it is a fundamental particle, since if it had non-zero volume whatever it was made out of would be more fundamental.

The problem is, I thought the electron had mass--orders of magnitude smaller than the proton, but still a measurable mass...

Can a point particle that takes up no space have mass? How?

I suspect my assumptions are wrong somewhere.

Replies:
Electrons are not very well understood. Although their behavior can be predicted with unbelievable accuracy, and we have lots of verifiable facts about electrons, nobody really knows what an electron is.

Tim Mooney


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