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epislon58
- 49
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What happends to atoms when you cut something in half, say a sheet of paper. In a solid, atoms are packed tightly, so I was curious and wondering of this is even a valid question.
ZombieFeynman said:Bonds (electromagnetic interaction between outer shell electrons) between atoms break.
epislon58 said:What happends to atoms when you cut something in half, say a sheet of paper. In a solid, atoms are packed tightly, so I was curious and wondering of this is even a valid question.
'roidbreaker said:I doubt cutting a piece of paper in half is chemistry.
nevermind. you're breaking and untangling these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycosidic_bond
ZombieFeynman said:Electromagnetism! Now it is easy to convince yourself that paper is held together by bonds between atoms just like most solids. If the paper comes apart then, it must be because these bonds break.
When you cut something in half, you are essentially separating it into two equal parts. The properties and characteristics of the object may change depending on what it is made of and how it is cut.
The weight of an object will not change when it is cut in half. The total mass of the object remains the same, it is just divided into two equal parts.
The chemical composition of an object will not change when it is cut in half. The molecules and atoms that make up the object remain the same, they are just rearranged into two separate parts.
The size of an object will depend on how it is cut. If the object is cut evenly, the size will remain the same. However, if the cut is uneven or at an angle, the size of the two parts may differ.
In theory, an object can be cut in half indefinitely. However, as the object gets smaller, the properties and characteristics may change drastically and eventually the object may no longer be recognizable or usable.