2006-07-21 06:10:03 · 6 answers · asked by jerry c 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
no
2006-07-21 06:17:02 · answer #1 · answered by Critical Mass 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Even the 1st c. B.C. epicurean philosopher, Lucretius, said it was impossible since (if it were true) matter would be able to "cave in" on itself and therefore no large assemblages of matter could exist. The stoics disagreed and said matter is infinitely divisible.
Today, we think matter may exist as energy-matter "strings" that vibrate in up to 12 spatial dimensions at a time. Also, it appears that the smallest a thing can ever be is about 10^-34 cm, called a Plank Length---this is about the size quantum strings may be. We'll know more after next summer when the largest atom smasher ever built (the LHC at CERN, in Switzerland) comes on line.
2006-07-21 16:37:15 · answer #2 · answered by stevenB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Matter can only be split down to its constituent elementary particles. These particles are not known to have any smaller sub-structure.
2006-07-21 13:32:35 · answer #3 · answered by Jared Z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No; eventually, you get down to things too small to split, much smaller than subatomic particles.
2006-07-21 13:38:31 · answer #4 · answered by an amateur 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. Currently the smallest "particle" of mass is quarks.
String theory postulates that quarks are made of a string like structure unlike quarks, electrons, neutrons .... which are particles.
2006-07-21 13:44:56 · answer #5 · answered by patrickgwn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. If you have good enough splitter.
2006-07-21 13:20:37 · answer #6 · answered by mukesh padhya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋