atom

[AJI]

Did anyone see the program called 'Atom' on BBC3 last night?

 

It basically tried to explain the workings (or the visualisation) of an atom in laymans terms.

 

 

 

I remembered most of it from my 'A' level physics days but one question that arises from it is .......... if the atom is mostly empty space (vacuum)... then if alpha, beta and gamma radiation tends to pass straight through .... then why does visible light always reflect (bounce back)?

 

Is light still considered as particle (photon) .... if so then light should pass through everything... no?

 

 

 

p.s.

I know its friday... I probably should be banned for posting up such a question !!

[DaveK]

I didn't see it - and I'm using that as my excuse for not being able to answer the question.

 

I wish I had though - stuff like that is interesting (more than it was when I did A level physics anyway).

[AlanM]

Consider the wavelength of beta and gamma radiation in respect of light.. Alpha radiation is particulate

[ivan]

Wavelength.

[mr keef]

[stevie_b]

Well, I did a physics degree but at uni they didn't explain anything as interesting as that!

 

Wavelength sounds like a plausible explanation. Yes, an atom is mostly empty space. I didn't see the TV programme but it's reckoned that if an atom is the size of the Albert Hall, then the nucleus is something like the size of a pea.

 

AJI, this'll bake your noodle : light is considered to be both a particle and a wave. It's called (dah-dah) wave-particle duality. It's particle-like behaviour only becomes apparent at low light levels though.