If we could observe an atom in slow motion, 1/100 second/1000 years.....?

Question

would we see planets?
Or anything?

cbirch, you've seen them, have you?
We will NEVER see an atom, because light waves will always be bigger than the largest ones.
And at the quantum level, the laws of physics change. Maybe there's a difference in time, simply.

Answer 1

While there is a certain intuitive appeal about the notion of nested universe systems, the idea is fraught with technical problems, because of the quantum nature of matter at the subatomic level. An electron has no position that can be identified, only a region of probability - and this isn't because it's too small to see. It's because of the way matter behaves at that level. It is really nothing like a planet, which is too big and ugly to be ruled primarily by quantum effects. Nice idea, but very unlikely. The quantum is way weirder than the solar system.

Answer 2

we hardly see anything now. But try this. Go the other way. Right now, your refresh rate is about 1/30th of a second. Suppose it took 80 YEARS! And let's say you lived for a million years. What would the planets look like as they circled the sun? Remember, in the instant you see the earth, it's traveled around the sun 80 times. AND the sun has moved through space a bit, on it's way towards Vega. Wouldn't the planets appear to be solid cylinders surrounding the sun? Almost like different layers of clothing.

Answer 3

Let's start with an ordinary hydrogen atom. If you could freeze it in time you'd see the proton (shape?) sitting there with an electron (roundish shape) sitting nearby. If you started watching it in extremely slow motion, you'd see the electron changing shape like water sloshing in a bathtub and you'd see it move around the proton in a complex pattern of varying distance. You'd be able to see the proton wobble a little as the electron moves around it, but I have no idea if it changes shape too. If you speed up a little the electron will just turn into a blur due to its orbit and the proton will be a little blurry due to its wobble. Now, what happens if you have an atom with dozens of protons, neutrons, and electrons? It would be fun to watch, that's for sure!

Answer 4

why do u think atoms are made of planets? they are made of protons neutrons and electrons, protons and neutrons are made of quarks. quarks are point particles, they have no volume. as far as we can tell theres no reason at all to think that there are mini solar systems in atoms.