has any one actually split an atom ?

Question

if so how do or would they do it ,

Retard mode:
How do they pick the atom they want to split?
How do they see the atom?

Answer 1

Yes, it's done all the time in nuclear reactors.

It's done by shooting neutrons at atoms of Uranium-235, which is "fissionable", meaning it's a kind of atom that can be split. (Other kinds of atoms can't be split, at least not easily).

They don't pick the individual atoms they want to split; they just put a bunch of U-235 near a neutron source, and wait. Nor do they see the atoms. They determine it has been split by analyzing the uranium before and after it's been bombarded. Afterwards, there are trances of other elements that weren't there before. So that's how they know.

Answer 2

Split An Atom

Answer 3

Splitting atoms happens all the time and even occurs naturally on this planet. Radioactivity is a result of large,unstable atoms that split apart like Uranium. This is the main thing responsible for keeping the core of the earth hot enough to melt it's contents. However even smaller stable atoms have been split at accelerator labs like Fermi Lab in Batavia, IL. They Can't specifically choose a single atom that they want to split. What they do instead is place a sample of pure material made up of the type of atom they are interested in splitting and then setting up extremely sensitive detectors to study the result of the atom being split or more accurately collided.

Answer 4

get at LEAST 200 acres of land, preferably in the desert, New Mexico is a good choice. (Area 51 come to mind??) THEN, get an accelerator, North Korea may have one for sale REAL soon. Iran may have one slightly used also. And Iraq has spare parts strewn about in Syria and Afghanistan and Russia and France.

To pick the RIGHT atom, first you need to know what purpose it will be used for; the cute atom is for power(peaceful purposes, like running high speed trains ((see cindy l's answer to high speed trains) and the evil looking ones are for Weapons Of Mass Destruction.

An electron microscope and twelve years of M.I. T, CalTech OR an out of work, hungry Russian Nuclear Engineer can help to see the atom.

Answer 5

Yes they have. For the record, they split uranium or plutonium, fairly large atoms, although you still can't see them.

They don't pick a single atom. They glom together billions of them. The only way they know that they split is because much energy is given off.

If you ran an atomic power plant and analyzed the fuel rods, much of the plutonium would be gone, replaced with lighter elements. In the long haul, it turns to iron, but it takes a very long time.

Answer 6

Yes...spliting atoms is the science on which atomic bombs are based.

In concept, it's quite easy...you fire a proton at an atomic nucleus fast enough to break the electrical bonds holding the atom together and....BOOM! A sudden and violent release of energy.

In practice, it's not quite that easy...when dealing with subatomic particles, it's not like you can see them to line them up like a billiards shot. They are far too small to see.

When you pick what kind of atom to split, scientists usually choose an unstable isotope of plutonium or uranium. This is because an unstable atom has weaker bonds, due to the unbalanced electrical charge of particles. The unstable atom is easier to split.

Answer 7

Of course!! That's what an Atomic Bomb is. Splitting an atom and releasing it's energy split another atom which splits another creating a huge explosion and gives off a lot of radioactive energy. They can see atoms with electron microscopes.

Answer 8

Are you asking about splitting of atom or nucleus?

If it is atom, it consists of electrons and nucleus. Removing electrons means splitting of atom. In that case it is always occurring in nature.

When electrons are removed from an atom it is said to be ionised.

There are numerous methods of ionizing a matter.

To ionize an atom we need not pick up any individual atom.

When salt is dissolved in water it is ionized.

We are not seeing air. We perceive its presence.

To understand the physics of matter and energy, it is not necessary that every thing must be seen.

The brain 'sees' every thing.

Answer 9

yes, splitting the atom is how we came up with nuclear power. i believe the atom that is split is hydrogen.

Answer 10

no but they have seen through an atom