Are Atoms Concentrations of Energy?

In summary, atoms and their sub particles can be described as concentrations of energy, but their properties go beyond just energy. The feeling of solidity is due to electrostatic repulsion between particles. Ultimately, the nature of these particles is still a mystery and some theories suggest they may be topological entities.
  • #1
mtanti
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Are atoms, or their sub particles, just concentrations of energy which do not disperse?

This energy pushes other like energies away and thus creates a solid feeling?
 
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  • #2
You're on the right track, but it's a lot more complicated than that. I'm going to leave this one for the experts.
 
  • #3
Atoms and their constituent particles play quantum roulette. They suffer from particle - wave duality. It's a wave function collapse thing.
 
  • #4
mtanti said:
Are atoms, or their sub particles, just concentrations of energy which do not disperse?

Yes, that would be a fair description, although it should be pointed out that the properties of particles go beyond merely how much energy they comprise. Other quantities like charge and so forth are necessary to obtain a complete desrciption of the particle.

mtanti said:
This energy pushes other like energies away and thus creates a solid feeling?

Matter 'feels' solid (at least on the macroscopic scale) because of various forms of electrostatic repulsion (like charge's repelling one another).

Claude.
 
  • #5
mtanti said:
Are atoms, or their sub particles, just concentrations of energy which do not disperse?

This energy pushes other like energies away and thus creates a solid feeling?

Mtanti, energy is not something from which things are made. It is a property that things have. It's rather like colour. You perceive a thing to be red because "red" is a property of the thing. But things aren't just concentrations of red, and nor are they just concentrations of energy.

As to what these things actually are, I don't know. Some say they are topological entities. It might be better if you picked a particular particle and asked what it is.
 

1. What exactly are atoms?

Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They are extremely small particles that make up all of the substances you see around you, from the air you breathe to the computer you're using to read this. Atoms are made up of even smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.

2. How are atoms related to energy?

Atoms contain energy in the form of particles called electrons. These electrons are constantly moving around the nucleus of the atom and can be transferred from one atom to another, creating energy in the form of electricity. Additionally, atoms can release energy through nuclear reactions.

3. What is meant by "concentrations of energy" in relation to atoms?

Atoms have a specific amount of energy associated with them, and this energy can vary depending on the type of atom. When a large number of atoms are present in a small space, the concentration of energy in that space is high. This can be seen in nuclear reactions or high-energy particles colliding in particle accelerators.

4. How are atoms and energy measured?

The energy of an atom is measured in units called electron volts (eV). This is the amount of energy gained by a single electron when it moves through an electric potential difference of one volt. Atoms themselves are measured in units of mass, usually in grams or atomic mass units (amu).

5. Are all atoms the same in terms of energy?

No, different atoms can have different amounts of energy. This is due to the number and arrangement of electrons in the atom, as well as the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For example, an atom of hydrogen has a different amount of energy than an atom of oxygen.

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