Atomic Vibration: Proving & Testing Theory

In summary: However, if you were to apply a sufficiently strong vibration or sound to a sufficiently sensitive compound, it is theoretically possible that the compound would completely break down into its constituent elements.
  • #1
bensonsearch
10
0
Hi All,

I have a thought that I had a while ago and wanted some advise/feedback etc

My thought was as follows:

All atoms have their own specific vibration, if one was able to match this vibration or its oppisite then the bonds that hold this atom together would break apart.

Kind of like two standing waves cancelling each other out.

I wanted to know how would i prove this to write in a paper and how could i test it works.

Thanx

Nick
 
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  • #2
bensonsearch said:
All atoms have their own specific vibration, if one was able to match this vibration or its oppisite then the bonds that hold this atom together would break apart.
Atoms aren't held together by bonds. The nucleus is held together by nuclear forces. The electrons and nucleus are kept together by the coulomb force. I am not sure what you mean by atoms having their own specific vibration. Perhaps you meant "molecules" rather than "atoms".

AM
 
  • #3
The atom is held together due to the interaction of the strong force, which works between protons and neutrons in the nucleus, and the electromagnetic force which causes protons and electrons to attract each other. The only way to break this "bond" is to give the atom enough energy so that the electron has too much energy to remain bound to atom. The amount of energy needed increases as you take more and more electrons out of an atom.

For the nucleus, it is nearly impossible to rip it apart except by smashing other nucleons into it. We have no way to cause a nucleus to break apart currently.

The vibrations of an atom have nothing to do with it. Matching or not matching the vibrations would only affect the interactions of those atoms with others.
 
  • #4
Drakkith said:
For the nucleus, it is nearly impossible to rip it apart except by smashing other nucleons into it. We have no way to cause a nucleus to break apart currently.
What about a conventional nuclear reactor using thermal (slow) neutron capture to cause a U235 nucleus to break apart?

AM
 
  • #5
Andrew Mason said:
What about a conventional nuclear reactor using thermal (slow) neutron capture to cause a U235 nucleus to break apart?

AM

U235 is already unstable and will eventually decay. We only use the neutrons to speed this up. In any case, this still is "smashing a nucleon" into it in my book. :smile:

Also, I think i meant "No OTHER way to cause a nucleus to break apart currently" in my previous post.
 
  • #6
Thanx heaps for your answers, questions thou, if we were to talk about molecules would that make a differance?

Also do we know what causes the strong force? as all forces can be canceled out right?

thanx again
 
  • #7
Not sure what you mean by "cancel"
One can not cancel gravity. And one can not cancel the negative charge of an electron, per se, without changing it to a positron and even then a charge(this case positive) remains.
Vibration? Under specific conditions this can break molecular bonds. Yet, the bonds are broken, not cancelled.
 
  • #8
bensonsearch said:
Thanx heaps for your answers, questions thou, if we were to talk about molecules would that make a differance?

Also do we know what causes the strong force? as all forces can be canceled out right?

thanx again

You cannot cancel out forces, they are always there. With the electromagnetic force you can make a particle *neutral* by adding in a equal and opposite charge. Both forces still exist, but since they are equal and opposite anything that would be attracted or repulsed by one or the other charges feels an equal force from both, giving a net force of 0.

The strong force is between the quarks that make up a proton and a neutron. It only acts at very very short ranges, but it is extremely strong. We cannot cancel it out because quarks always show up in pairs or triplets and in effect, cancel each other out themselves. (See Quantum Chromodynamics)

Edit: I guess the equal and opposite forces is exactly what cancels them out, but I figured its best to explain that you cannot turn the forces off somehow.
 
  • #9
I quess cancel was a poor choice of words, make neutral is what i was meaning. so with relation to the specific breaking down of bonds (what I am after, again poor choice in wording sorry) it is possible then? ie: a piece of material (doesnt matter what) been broken apart and reduced to its base components by a specific vibration/sound at the right freq/amplitude etc
 
  • #10
bensonsearch said:
... it is possible then? ie: a piece of material (doesnt matter what) been broken apart and reduced to its base components by a specific vibration/sound at the right freq/amplitude etc

Yes. But the extant of that reduction is highly specific to composition and force applied.
That is, some compounds might indeed disintegrate completely, others might not.
 
  • #11
ok, so what kind of sound force are we talking then? ultra high freq? and i take it rather a lot of power?
 
  • #12
I do not know the specifics, but yes, ultrasonic drilling is an established technology.
Again, such methods only attack(significantly disrupt their stablility by intense, high frequency vibrations) the molecular bonds.
The atomic nucleus is undisturbed.

You might try Googling "ultrasonic drilling" or something similar.
 

1. What is atomic vibration and why is it important?

Atomic vibration is the movement of atoms within a solid material. It is important because it affects the physical and chemical properties of materials, such as strength, conductivity, and thermal expansion. Studying atomic vibration can help us understand the behavior and properties of materials.

2. How do scientists prove the existence of atomic vibration?

Scientists use various techniques, such as X-ray and neutron scattering, to measure and analyze the movements of atoms in a material. This allows them to observe the vibrations and confirm their existence.

3. What is the theory behind atomic vibration?

The theory behind atomic vibration is based on the laws of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. Atoms are constantly moving due to thermal energy, and their movements can be described using quantum mechanical principles.

4. How do scientists test the theory of atomic vibration?

Scientists test the theory of atomic vibration by conducting experiments and comparing the results to the predictions of the theory. They also use computer simulations and mathematical models to study and validate the concepts of atomic vibration.

5. What are the real-world applications of understanding atomic vibration?

Understanding atomic vibration has many real-world applications, including the development of new materials with desired properties, improving the efficiency and durability of electronic devices, and designing more efficient energy storage systems. It also plays a crucial role in fields such as materials science, engineering, and nanotechnology.

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