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Uranium nucleus: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 15 fm.

Approximate diameter

fm means femtometer: a unit used to measure the nuclei of atoms. Imagine 1 millimeter split into one trillion equal pieces: one piece measures 1 fm.

A heavy nucleus containing 92 protons.

Explore at this scale
Uranium nucleus, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

A heavy nucleus containing 92 protons. The number of neutrons depends on the uranium isotope. The dimension represents the nucleus alone; the atom's electron cloud occupies a much larger scale.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with Helium nucleus in the explorer →

Source and limitations

Catalogue order of magnitude; a source is provided, but this measurement has not been individually audited.

Uranium nucleus: conceptual model of a cluster of nucleons. The number and arrangement of the spheres are not a nuclear reconstruction; approximate diameter.