Subatomic particles, which include protons, neutrons, and electrons, are found within the atoms that make up all matter. Understanding their locations requires a bit of insight into atomic structure.
Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus, the dense core at the center of an atom. This nucleus is incredibly small compared to the overall size of the atom but contains most of its mass. Protons carry a positive charge, while neutrons are neutral and don’t have any charge.
Electrons, on the other hand, are not found in a fixed position but move around the nucleus in regions known as electron shells or orbitals. These areas are defined by probabilities, meaning we can’t pinpoint the exact location of an electron at any given moment, but we can describe where it is likely to be found. The further an electron is from the nucleus, the higher its energy level.
This concept can be illustrated by thinking of the nucleus as a small marble in the middle of a large room. The electron shells are akin to the space around the marble where the marble can be influenced by other objects in the room, but you can’t catch it at a specific spot without a lot of uncertainty.
In summary, subatomic particles are located in specific areas within an atom: protons and neutrons in the nucleus, and electrons in the surrounding electron clouds.