Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Fundamental Particles



We have been talking about small particles this week.  Atoms, which are the tiny particles that make up matter, were once thought to be fundamental.  That is, they were believed to be the end of the line when it comes to breaking apart substances.  At this point, scientists have found that even atoms can be broken down into smaller parts, protons, electrons, and neutrons, which can also be broken down into even smaller parts (quarks, leptons, force carrier particles).  

Go to the following link to go on a "Particle Adventure."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...


Dan said...
Question to Ponder
If atoms are 99% empty space, why can't we move through solid objects?


we can't move through solid objects because of the residual electromagnetic force.

Anonymous said...

to clarify what I said the atoms in your feet and the floor are E-M charged so that they resist being displaced. This is why the floor can't move through you, either.

Dan Cunitz said...

But might there be a way to bypass the electromagnetic forces?