maybe you'd use the atom as a switch in the computer. or just make a little switch the size of an atom or smaller! maybe you could make a whole circuit board the size of an atom.
2007-07-12 06:00:59 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
the circuit board does not carryout its function simply by moving its electrons. its is caused by many atoms of metals (actually semi conductors) moving their electrons in pre-assigned paths (more or less) for it to be a single atom just wouldn't do. there wouldn't be enough atoms to carry the information.
as far as the switch goes, the only way to move that atom into and out of the assigned position is by chemical reactions, in which case, the use of atoms is unlikely. it may be possible in the distant future to use individual molecules as switches, but with current (haha current! like electrical current??? i made a funny hee hee hee) technology, a chemical reaction would produce ( or absorb ) energy that might be needed for somthing else, throwing it all out of wack. PLUS, ( + ) the atom would have to be in exactly the priecise position, otherwise it would transfer its electrons whether you wanted it to or not. its a great idea tho, unfortunately its just not possible at the time
2007-07-12 06:09:16 · answer #1 · answered by Fundamenta- list Militant Atheist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certainly you are talking about our everyday computer (and not optical ones/ or quantum ones).
I personally think it is highly possible to build one, since a proton or an electron may used in that case to operate the switch. Proton/ electron being smaller than an atom, our objective will be achieved. But I am afraid that building a circuit board out of an atom (however big the atom may be) may not be easily achieved, as the elementary particles will abide by the laws (of motion, charges, Pauli's principle, quantum number etc.) and not by our intention. Also interactions at quantum level will occur and forces like van der Waals forces will complicate the matter.
2007-07-12 13:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is possible. The two states (1 and 0) would be the spin of the outermost electron.
2007-07-12 13:06:39 · answer #3 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋