You learned in Chapter 37 that, except for hydrogen, the mass of a nucleus with atomic number Z is larger than the mass of the Z protons. The additional mass was ultimately discovered to be due to neutrons, but prior to the discovery of the neutron it was suggested that a nucleus with mass number A might contain A protons and (A - Z) electrons. Such a nucleus would have the mass of A protons, but its net charge would be only Ze.

a. We know that the diameter of a nucleus is approximately 10 fm. Model the nucleus as a one dimensional box and find the minimum range of speeds that an electron would have in such a box.
b. What does your answer imply about the possibility that the nucleus contains electrons? Explain.