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The atom is composed of a nucleus surrounded by electrons (negative charge) rotating in orbits around the nucleus. The nucleus is composed of protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral charge). So the three main subatomic particles are:

  • electrons
  • protons
  • neutrons

If you want to look at the next lower quantum level, it is equally valid to say that the three main subatomic particles are:

  • electrons
  • up quarks
  • down quarks

At this level all particles are point particles, with 0 diameter. However, up and down quarks like to clump together acting like larger particles with finite diameters (e.g. three up and down quarks can make either a proton or neutron, two quarks can make a meson).

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14y ago

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