Are the nucleons fundamental particles,or do they consist of still smaller parts? One way to find out is to probe a nucleon just as Rutherford probed an atom. What should be the kinetic energy of an electron for it to be able to probe a nucleon? Assume the diameter of a nucleon to be approximately $10^{-15} \ m$.

(N/A) Nucleons are not fundamental particles; they are composed of smaller particles called quarks. $A$ proton consists of $2$ up quarks and $1$ down quark $(uud)$,while a neutron consists of $1$ up quark and $2$ down quarks $(udd)$.
To probe a nucleon,the wavelength $\lambda$ of the incident electron must be less than or equal to the diameter $d$ of the nucleon $(d = 10^{-15} \ m)$.
Using the de Broglie relation,$\lambda = h/p$. For high-energy electrons,the kinetic energy $K$ is approximately equal to the total energy $E = pc$ (since the rest mass energy is negligible).
Thus,$K = pc = hc/\lambda$.
Setting $\lambda = d = 10^{-15} \ m$:
$K = \frac{(6.625 \times 10^{-34} \ J \cdot s) \times (3 \times 10^8 \ m/s)}{10^{-15} \ m} = 1.9875 \times 10^{-10} \ J$.
Converting to electron volts:
$K = \frac{1.9875 \times 10^{-10} \ J}{1.6 \times 10^{-19} \ J/eV} \approx 1.242 \times 10^9 \ eV = 1.242 \ GeV$.
Therefore,the electron must have a kinetic energy of at least $1.242 \ GeV$ to probe the internal structure of a nucleon.