# Electron/Proton Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-proton-question/51492 "2001-01-24T01:18:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-proton-question/51492/1 "2001-01-24T01:18:37Z")
An electron has a mass about 1/1887 of a proton but has the relative same amount of charge as a proton does but its charge is negative. So does this mean that a proton is more “inert” (forgive me for my incorrect terms) than an electron? ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-proton-question/51492/2 "2001-01-24T01:37:00Z")
don’t know what you mean by “inert”, but the proton is remarkably stable. I believe that the odds of a proton decaying may be less than one chance in the entire time the universe exists. actually, I think I do know what you mean by “inert” (not as concentrated, so not as volitile?), but I don’t know the answer you’re asking. YMMV, or IANAL, whatever. jb ---
**Author:** ![Bobort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bobort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobort)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-proton-question/51492/3 "2001-01-24T02:13:01Z")
Well, the proton actually contains some negative charge as well as positive: it’s composed of two up quarks (each with a charge of +2/3) and a down quark (charge -1/3). The total balances out to +1, of course. Also, the quarks that make up the proton contribute relatively little to its mass (the rest of its mass is sort of a manifestation of the energy that binds the quarks together). The electron, on the other hand, is a fundamental particle as far as we know. Interpret this as you will.