Atoms are so small how can you study them?

Question

You already know that atoms are very small. Atoms are far too small to be seen, even with a microscope. How can you study something so small? How can you determine the internal structure of an atom?

Answer 1

There is a whole field of physics called elementary particle physics which is devoted to finding out exactly how atoms are put together and what particles make up the atoms. To do this, scientists bombard atoms with neutrons or other atoms and then gather experimental data on these collisions. At Stanford University in California there is a mile long facility called a linear accelerator which is used to accelerate particles to bombard the atoms at the other end. The scientists then measure the momentum of the incoming particles and compare that with the outgoing ones as well, and also measure the energy released.From this information they can discover new particles and come to a better understanding of what makes up the atom.

Answer 2

very good question.
It is not trivial at all. you conclude from what you know about the macroscopic world, and make experiments, which would have two possible results - for your hypothesis, or against it.

It is actually quite an "ant work" - meaning - no one can start from skretch and investigate the smallest particles. You have to use many hypothesis that were proved to be accurate by people before you.

As for the atomic model - there was a debate about the atomic model untill 1905, when Einstein suggesed the atomic model which explained very well the stochastic movement of particles. In 1911, a French physicist named Jean Perrin validated it experimently.

The internal structure was validated by the Rutherford experiment. Rutherford bombed a thin layer of gold with electrons, and examined the way the electron went. by that, assuming of course many other things someone checked befor him(like that gold is made out of atoms, that really shoot the electrons and so forth...) he could tell how the inner structure of the atoms look like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_experiment.

Answer 3

Actually an electron microscope can show us the electron orbit shell around an atom. As for the internal structure, we can infer it be splitting the atom and seeing what parts are left behind.

Answer 4

nicely, the easy debris with which we are usual are: Leptons (fermions that do not experience the best stress - electron, tau, muon and their neutrinos) Vector/gauge bosons (digital debris that mediate the 4 straightforward forces) Quarks (one 0.33 of a nucleon) or Preon (nevertheless uncertain) As for no matter if our universe can characterize an atom, evaluate those hindrances: - Our finished universe is mediated practically totally through 1 unmarried stress (gravitation) on the large scale and its interactions between darkish power and common count number. it truly is hostile to a unmarried atom, it somewhat is mediated through the three different forces (weak, good, electromagnetic). - there is extremely some info now for the warm vast bang idea, suggesting that the universe has a "beginning." inspite of the reality that this variety of resembles the synthesis of quarks (count number) from power as a results of quantum fluctuations, the universe's scope in that it encompasses all TIME and area at each aspect does no longer experience that of an atom. - progression on the previous aspect, the textile of "spacetime" as theorized through ordinary Relativity can not enable for something "outdoors" the universe in both time or area. in spite of the indisputable fact that, those type of problems with the "diverse" universes theory will be solved with a unmarried type of metaphysical statement: the "more beneficial" universe would not follow an identical physics as our universe. it truly is an same theory because the conflict between Newtonian physics and Quantum physics. The question you ask is an somewhat philosophical and practically non secular question, in spite of the indisputable fact that the tentative end that we are able to attain with what all of us understand on the on the spot is: If our universe will be a small component of something large, then the something large can not follow the guidelines of physics as we comprehend them now. we've a duty to stay open-minded about the prospect; in spite of the indisputable fact that, if reality be counseled that a "more beneficial" universe (ought to it exist) has no longer somewhat affected us yet (arguably), so we ought to continually end attempting to stress about it and make sure out a fashion to make certain sustainability of the human race and of Earth.

Answer 5

You've never read about the Rutherford experiment