Theos-Talk Archives (November 2005 Message tt00020)

Vitvan describes what you ask. http://www.sno.org/lessons2.htm

-Bryan

On 11/3/05, saidevo <saidevo@yahoo.co.in> wrote:
>
> The chemical atom has a nucleus that has protons and neutrons (with
> quarks inside them), and electrons in orbit around the nucleus. Some
> other sub-atomic particles might be generated from time to time,
> but these are not stable. An atom has a diameter of 10^-10 meters.
>
> Two atoms never touch each other, even in the densest solid.
> The space between two atoms is far larger than the size of the atom.
> Similarly, the space between the particles inside the atom is also
> large, compared to their sizes. And all the particles are vibrating,
> the electrons going around, and the quarks vibrating on their axes.
>
> Given this situation, how does an atom remain an atom always?
> Why don't the particles just dissipate into the surrounding space?
> What keeps the particles together, bound as a common unit, the atom?
> What is the force that binds the particles to the atomic structure?
>
> Since the electrons go round the nucleus, the force that binds them
> may be the gravitational force, with centripetal forces counteracting
> the force of gravity. What about the quarks? What force binds them
> into units of protons and neutrons? If it is a nuclear force, or a
> cohesive force, or any other force, what is the nature of such
> forces? Do they have a role even outside the atom? In what way are
> these sub-atomic forces different from the normal forces or energy
> fields such as gravity, electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism?
>
> An image on a computer monitor persists because it is constantly
> refreshed by electron beams acting as an external force, welling up
> from inside the picture tube. An image on a cinema screen persists
> because it is refreshed by the beam of light from the projector.
> Should this not be the case with atoms too? If so, has Science
> postulated any external force that either acts on the atom or
> wells up from within the atom (from a fourth dimension) and keeps
> the atom intact? If there is such a force, what is the nature
> of this force?
>
> An explanation with less technical jargon would be helptul.
>
> Regards,
> saidevo
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