Nucleon

Real World Example

Imagine trying to assemble a puzzle but realizing that the pieces are either edge pieces or middle pieces, each essential to completing the picture. In a similar way, the atomic nucleus is like the central puzzle of an atom, composed of nucleons that are either protons (like the edge pieces that define the framework) or neutrons (like the middle pieces that fill in the rest). Just as you need both edge and middle pieces to complete a puzzle, an atomic nucleus needs both protons and neutrons to form a stable structure, where protons provide the charge and identity, while neutrons add mass and stability.