electron
No, wrong.
The electron neutrino has the least nonzero mass, it is so small the exact value has not been determined. The photon and graviton both have zero mass.
I'd be willing to bet the farm that this question is only inquiring about protons, neutrons, and electrons, but I'll be more thorough anyways. First off, out of the previously mentioned particles; electrons are the lightest, having a mass of 9.109 X 10-31 kg or 511 keV/c2; followed by protons, with a mass of 1.672 X 10-27 kg or 938.3 MeV/c2; and finally ending with neutrons, having a mass of 1.675 X 10-27 kg or 939.6 MeV/c2.
Now, as for all of the other subatomic particles out there, we have a tie for the lightest: photons and gluons; both weighing in at a paltry 0. Both particles are members of the larger group of particles known as gauge bosons, which means that they are force mediating particles. Photons mediate the electromagnetic force, and are found in such atomic processes as gamma decay and X-ray emission. Gluons mediate the strong nuclear force, and are the guys responsible for keeping quarks confined within protons and neutrons.
As a side note, there are actually 8 types of gluons, meaning that there's actually a 9-way tie for lightest subatomic particle. However, explaining the what's, why's, and how's for there being 8 gluons is WAY beyond the scope of this answer, especially considering that I've probably already gone too far.
That being said:
There may be another massless particle out there called the graviton. Gravitons are the proposed gauge bosons that would mediate the force of gravity. Also, the graviton's existence is a necessary condition for pretty much all of the most promising "Theories Of Everything" to be correct. However, they thus far remain unobserved.
It depends, in part, on the definition of mass used. Nowadays, physicists often use what was traditionally called the "rest mass", now sometimes called the "invariant mass", because it is the same for all frames of reference. A photon has a rest mass of zero.
Of objects that move at LESS than the speed of light, the neutrino has an extremely small rest mass. Since the neutrino moves so extremely fast, it was believed for some time to travel at the speed of light, but it seems its speed is actually slightly less.
It depends, in part, on the definition of mass used. Nowadays, physicists often use what was traditionally called the "rest mass", now sometimes called the "invariant mass", because it is the same for all frames of reference. A photon has a rest mass of zero.
Of objects that move at LESS than the speed of light, the neutrino has an extremely small rest mass. Since the neutrino moves so extremely fast, it was believed for some time to travel at the speed of light, but it seems its speed is actually slightly less.
It depends, in part, on the definition of mass used. Nowadays, physicists often use what was traditionally called the "rest mass", now sometimes called the "invariant mass", because it is the same for all frames of reference. A photon has a rest mass of zero.
Of objects that move at LESS than the speed of light, the neutrino has an extremely small rest mass. Since the neutrino moves so extremely fast, it was believed for some time to travel at the speed of light, but it seems its speed is actually slightly less.
It depends, in part, on the definition of mass used. Nowadays, physicists often use what was traditionally called the "rest mass", now sometimes called the "invariant mass", because it is the same for all frames of reference. A photon has a rest mass of zero.
Of objects that move at LESS than the speed of light, the neutrino has an extremely small rest mass. Since the neutrino moves so extremely fast, it was believed for some time to travel at the speed of light, but it seems its speed is actually slightly less.
what you mean to say is what subatomic particle has the lowest mass? Which would be by far the neutron
You probably meant to say the neutrino.
Although note that the photon has zero mass, which is even less than that of a neutrino.
EDIT: I struck out the wrong answers. The photon and gluon have the smallest mass of all particles, both of which have zero mass; however, the photon does have momentum (recall that, traditionally, momentum is proportional to velocity and mass) and I am unsure if the gluon does (in fact, nobody knows because gluons have never been directly observed and tested.)
It depends, in part, on the definition of mass used. Nowadays, physicists often use what was traditionally called the "rest mass", now sometimes called the "invariant mass", because it is the same for all frames of reference. A photon has a rest mass of zero.
Of objects that move at LESS than the speed of light, the neutrino has an extremely small rest mass. Since the neutrino moves so extremely fast, it was believed for some time to travel at the speed of light, but it seems its speed is actually slightly less.
Photons and gluons have no mass and neutrinos have a small but nonzero mass.
the quark has the smallest mass in an atom, but there are lighter subatomic particles
the quark ;)
The above answer is wrong. Photons and gluons have no mass and neutrinos have a small but nonzero mass.
Electrons has the least mass. Protons and neutrons are almost equal mass.
This particle is the electron.
The three main subatomic particles are the proton, neutron, and electron. Of these three, the electron has the least amount of mass at about 0.0005 amu or atomic mass units.
electrons the smallest but weigh as much as protons neutrons weigh nothing ~Kay
No such particle exists. All particles with charge also have mass -- no exceptions. Every particle with zero mass also has zero charge -- no exceptions.
The discovery of the subatomic particles demonstrated for the first time that atoms are not the smallest particles of matter. Electron was the first subatomic particle discovered by J.J. Thomson.
Technically all subatomic particles have mass. However, the electron is so small that it was once considered to have no mass. Wrong, both photons and gravitons are subatomic particles with no mass.
Hydrogen has the smallest atomic mass at roughly 1.008 grams per mol (6.02x10^23 atoms)
The electron has the smallest mass between subatomic particles: 9,10938291(40).10-31 kg.
among these Electron has the least mass....
In the atom the electron is the lightest.
subatomic particle
This particle is the electron with a mass of 5,485 799 094 6(22)×10−4 amu.
Subatomic particle
The largest subatomic particle (by mass) is the proton. The mass of subatomic particles is measured in atomic mass units (amu). The proton has a mass of 1.007 amu, the neutron has a mass of 1 amu, and the electron has a mass of .0005 amu.
a subatomic particle
If you think to the boson Higgs this is not a small particle.
An "element" is not a subatomic particle. Your question makes no sense and is therefore unanswerable.Another answer:Since an element is not a subatomic particle, the only answer can be a proton.
Quark is the smallest particle ever discovered.