The Physics Of The Atomic Theory - 1519 Words

â€Å"What is the world made of?† That question has puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries. The atomic theory was first proposed in ancient Greece around 400 BC and has continued to evolve through the centuries to finally evolve into the current theory we have today. We now know that the subatomic particles that make up the atom are no longer the fundamental particles of the universe because even they are made of smaller particles called â€Å"quarks.† The continuous study of atoms will allow us to truly understand the universe and harness it’s knowledge to further science and technology for the good of society. In ancient Greece, the first philosophers searched for the fundamental building blocks of the world. Originally, it was thought that the fundamental elements were earth, air, fire, and water. Empedocles (c. 490-430 BC) was the first to classify the elements and propose that they made up everything in our world in different combinations. Leucippus (c. 460-370 BC), and his student Democritus (c. 460-370 BC), were the first to propose a theory that the world was made up of â€Å"atoms.† The word â€Å"atom† is derived from the Greek word â€Å"atomon,† which means â€Å"that which cannot be divided† (The Particle Adventure). Leucippus’s theory was very vague. He claimed the world was made of two elements that he called, â€Å"the full† or the â€Å"solid† and â€Å"the empty† or â€Å"void† (Berryman). He believed these particles were infinite and were what made up all things. Because Leucippus’sShow MoreRelatedTh e Physics Of The Atomic Theory1297 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch of numerous chemists and physicists. The atomic theory is the building block to the study of matter, just as the atom is the building block to all matter. Around 400 BCE was when the Greek philosopher Democritus, alone with his teacher Leucippus, the idea of the atom was born (the word atom comes from the Greek word â€Å"atomos† or â€Å"atomon† meaning â€Å"that which cannot be split†). This was a completely new concept, and Democritus’s theory stated that atoms were indestructible and homogenousRead MoreThe Physics Of The Atomic Theory1404 Words   |  6 PagesRutherford would have inspired him to investigate in Atoms. This may of occurred because there was a conspiracy towards the atoms due to nobody actually seeing them. What part of the Atomic Theory did they investigate? Ernest Rutherford was responsible for a many different discoveries such as radioactivity and nuclear physics. He discovered alpha and beta rays, found the laws of radioactive decay, and identified alpha particles as helium nuclei. Most important, he postulated the nuclear structure of theRead MorePhysics And Physics : Atomic Theory2392 Words   |  10 Pages In chemistry and physics, atomic theory is a scientific theory of the nature of matter, which states that matter is composed of discrete units called atoms. It began as a philosophical concept in ancient Greece and entered the scientific mainstream in the early 19th century when discoveries in the field of chemistry showed that matter did indeed behave as if it were made up of atoms. The word atom comes from the Ancient Greek adjective atomos, meaning uncuttable. 19th century chemists began usingRead MoreThe Physics Of The Atomic Theory964 Words   |  4 Pagesenergy in all kinds of matter. The atomic theory became a very important piece in chemistry because it explained the atomic structure and how it worked. Important scientists that helped contribute to this theory were people like John Dalton and J.J. Thompson which helped establish a foundation to the theory, as well as create experiments that helped provide evidence of their findings. John Dalton was an important scientist that established the atomic theory. His theory was as follows: 1.All matter isRead MoreThe Physics Of Atomic Theory1142 Words   |  5 Pagesdevelopment of atomic theory, and made science changing discoveries that are still today quite impressive, even in comparison to modern day scientists. There are countless scientists involved in the evolution of atomic theory, but less than 50 have majorly impacted the way we view atomic theory today. Discovery and experimentation on the atom first began in the Greek Era with scientists as old as Democritus and Aristotle. Democritus was believed to be the first person to touch on the atomic theory. He statedRead MoreThe Physics Of The Atomic Theory800 Words   |  4 Pages Atomic Theory The ancient Greek the word atom means indivisible. It was used to describe the smallest indivisible piece of a matter. He believed that all matter could be broken down using femtometers. Atoms were perceived to be indestructible. Atom was derived from the greek word atomon or atomos meaning indestructible. This fundamental atomic theory was developed by a scholar named Democritus. He was a pupil of the famous philosopher Leucippus. From Democritus’ original Atomic TheoryRead MoreEssay about Enrico Fermi and the Development of the Atomic Bomb1013 Words   |  5 PagesEnrico Fermi and the Development of the Atomic Bomb The 20th century saw many important discoveries which impacted people worldwide. Great discoveries were made in the realm of science and technology which lead to the atomic age. One of the leading pioneers in the area of physics was Enrico Fermi. Without his contributions, the atomic bomb may not have been developed or would have possibly been postponed. Enrico Fermi was born into a family who had enough money to live comfortably. FermiRead MoreBiography of Albert Einstein1573 Words   |  7 Pages Einstein was able to apply directly to the Eidgenà ¶ssische Polytechnische Schule (Swiss Federal Polytechnic School) in Zà ¼rich, Switzerland. Lacking a high school diploma, he failed the entrance exam but got exceptional marks in mathematics and physics. Because of this, he was admitted to the school provided he complete his formal schooling first. He went to a special high school run by Jost Winteler in Aarau, Switzerland. He graduated in 1896 at age 17. He became lifelong friends with the WintelerRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Atom1384 Words   |  6 Pageswhich made a theory â€Å"The idea that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles, or atoms, is believed to have originated with the Greek philosopher Leucippus of Miletus and his student Democritus of Abdera in the 5th century B.C. (The word atom comes from the Greek word atomos, which means â€Å"indivisible.†)† (InfoPlease Atomic theory) After that theory scientists started Wondering about this theory and a lot of Scientists made up Models and conducted Experiments to Explain this Theory. In thisRead MoreNiels Henrik David Bohr was born in Copenhagen on October 7, 1885. His parents were Christian Bohr800 Words   |  4 Pagesphysociolgist and was responsible for sparking Niels and Harold’s interests in physics while they were still in school. Their mother, Ellen needeler, came from a family distinguished in the field of education. Niels Bohr parents were well-educated parents. Niels Bohr became interested in physics at a young age. He studied physics thought his undergraduate and graduate years. He worked hard to earn a doctorate in physics in 19911 which he received from Copenhagen University. The next year, 1912, Bohr