A scientist uses an accelerator and high energy electrons to study the particles inside the protons of a helium atom. What particles is the scientist studying?

Protons are made of smaller particles called quarks, which high-energy electrons can help scientists investigate. The helium atom’s protons contain quarks just like protons in other atoms, so the scientist is studying the He quarks. The nucleus, electrons, and neutrons are larger particles or structures, not the particles inside protons.

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