Page 47 - The Miracle in the Atom
P. 47
The Structure Of The Atom
topaz
pyrite
titanium
limestone blue sapphire
yellow sapphire
calcite
talc
copper topaz
emery stone
fluoride
iron
galena
quartz
coal
diamond apatite
barium sulfate
feldspar
rock salt
feldspar
gold
quartz
What causes the difference between the elements is the number of protons in the nuclei of their atoms.
It is this difference that makes the materials shown above appear so different from each other.
"Particle Physics" investigating the "sub-particles" within the atom and their
particular movements. Research conducted by particle physics revealed that
the protons and neutrons making up the atom are actually formed of sub-
particles called "quarks".
The dimension of the quarks that form the proton, which is so small as
to exceed the capabilities of human imagination, is much more astounding:
10 (0.000000000000000001) metres.
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The quarks inside a proton can never be pulled apart from each other
very much because the "strong nuclear force" that is responsible for keeping
the particles inside the nucleus together operates here as well. This force ser-
ves as a rubber band between the quarks. As the distance between the qu-
arks increases, so does this force and two quarks cannot become more dis-
tant from each other than a quadrillionth of a metre. These rubber bands bet-
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