Posted on 01/06/2020 6:31:49 AM PST by Red Badger
No one really knows what happens inside an atom. But two competing groups of scientists think they've figured it out. And both are racing to prove that their own vision is correct.
Here's what we know for sure: Electrons whiz around "orbitals" in an atom's outer shell. Then there's a whole lot of empty space. And then, right in the center of that space, there's a tiny nucleus — a dense knot of protons and neutrons that give the atom most of its mass. Those protons and neutrons cluster together, bound by what's called the strong force. And the numbers of those protons and neutrons determine whether the atom is iron or oxygen or xenon, and whether it's radioactive or stable.
Still, no one knows how those protons and neutrons (together known as nucleons) behave inside an atom. Outside an atom, protons and neutrons have definite sizes and shapes. Each of them is made up of three smaller particles called quarks, and the interactions between those quarks are so intense that no external force should be able to deform them, not even the powerful forces between particles in a nucleus. But for decades, researchers have known that the theory is in some way wrong. Experiments have shown that, inside a nucleus, protons and neutrons appear much larger than they should be. Physicists have developed two competing theories that try to explain that weird mismatch, and the proponents of each are quite certain the other is incorrect. Both camps agree, however, that whatever the correct answer is, it must come from a field beyond their own.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’m curious as to the relative size of and distance between the electrons and the nucleus.
Has anyone ever seen a relative size comparison of electron orbits versus our solar system or other large subject?
* * *
The answer is 42.
Your post is 43...................
Thanks Red Badger.
That graphic chart is hilarious!........................
“Do these valence electrons make me look fat?”
I could follow the explanation of the EMC effect... but got lost trying to understand what’s different in the competing theory.
Any single-paragraph summary would be appreciated.
Missed it by that much.
Three quarks walk into a bar..........................
https://www.livescience.com/64844-quarks-emc-effect-nucleus.html
Thanks.
I’ll give this one a try.
That did help. Thanks.
I’ve always thought your posts are beautiful things, DP. Your positivity and thoughtfulness in the face of your challenges is inspiring to see. :)
The fabric of space/time is constantly expanding. If there were no matter then this expansion would be at a uniform rate everywhere.
However there is matter. And all matter causes "drag" on the expansion of space time. The more mass, the more drag. The expansion of space/time slows down, or drags more, the more massive an object is.
For example the sun causes a tremendous amount of drag. We call the visible effects of this "gravity". Gravity is simply the slowing of the expansion of space/time around a massive object.
Imagine taking a golf ball, a basketball, a marble and a grain of sand and shrink wrapping plastic wrap around it and then stretching it tight at a constant rate. Anything near the basketball is going to cause less drag because it's near the basketball which is causing a tremendous amount of drag. This drag is also pulling and stretching the basketball at the same time. Anything near the basketball is being stretched less than it would be if it were not near the basketball.
Consider what happens when an asteroid or comet "falls" to earth. It is torn apart by what we call "friction" which is really just the result of being stretched and pulled by the much slower expansion of space/time as it gets closer to the surface of the earth. That's a rough analogy.
The same thing happens on a micro scale. Within an atom there is more mass at the nucleus. Remember space/time is wrapped tightly around all particles of matter. So within an atoms nucleus the protons and neutrons are exerting MORE drag which means they are being stretched more then free protons or neutrons. Which makes them bigger.
That characterizes the phenomenom...doesn’t really explain “why” based on your reference. They are called electron orbits..but do they orbit? Or just occupy a specific space under low energies a percentage of tbe time? Cheers....
dp,
Sorry about that,
Brudder.
I love stuff like that. Gonna read now thanks
Hey thanks I appreciate that :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.