Convert Carat (car, ct) to Proton Mass (mₕ (p)) instantly.
About these units
Carat (car, ct)
The carat, equal to 200 milligrams, is the standard unit for measuring gemstones and pearls. Its origins trace to the seeds of the carob tree, which were historically thought to have remarkably uniform mass, making them convenient reference weights for early traders. In the modern gem trade, carats measure both weight and (informally) influence perceived value—though size and quality factors such as clarity and color also play major roles. High-precision digital scales capable of reading to 0.001 carat are common in gemology. The carat's persistence shows how specialized units evolve to meet the needs of niche industries. Though small, its economic impact is enormous due to the value of gemstones.
Proton Mass (mₕ (p))
The proton mass, approximately 1.67262192369 × 10⁻²⁷ kilograms, is central to chemistry, nuclear physics, and cosmology. Protons, along with neutrons, form the nuclei of atoms and therefore compose most of the mass of ordinary matter. The proton mass arises from the strong nuclear force and the dynamics of quarks and gluons within quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Interestingly, most of the proton's mass is not from its constituent quarks but from the energy stored in the strong force. Understanding the proton mass helps scientists explore nuclear stability, binding energies, and stellar nucleosynthesis—the processes that form elements inside stars.