Who Conceived the Concept of Atoms and Are There Undiscovered Forces?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the origins and validity of the concept of atoms and the importance of scientific theories in predicting and understanding the world. It also addresses the potential consequences of dismissing established scientific concepts.
  • #1
THX22
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Who came up with the idea of an atom? It begs the question why do such people waste their time on this when they know they can never really find out what's going on? I bet instead of the four known forces there are litterally hundreds of millions of 'forces' each binding everything on such a small scale that they are nearly invisible.
 
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  • #2
THX22 said:
Who came up with the idea of an atom? It begs the question why do such people waste their time on this when they know they can never really find out what's going on? I bet instead of the four known forces there are litterally hundreds of millions of 'forces' each binding everything on such a small scale that they are nearly invisible.

Seems you've missed the essential drive of science: prediction and comparison with experiment. If, by making certain hypotheses, you arrive at predicting how certain experimental results should turn out, and this happens indeed, then this gives some credibility to the value of your hypotheses (without ever being definitive).

With atoms, that's the same. You start by saying "assume that matter is made up of atoms, and that they behave in this and that way"... this allows you to build a mathematical model (with more or less sophistication) of what SHOULD happen if it were indeed true that matter is made up of atoms. That mathematical model makes then certain predictions. When you go and verify them in the lab, and it works out correctly, that's then something that gives credibility to your original hypothesis of "assume that matter is made up of atoms".
When you think about this, about ALL you know has been established that way - unless you took it on faith.
 
  • #3
What if there's just a ghost moving through them...
 
  • #4
THX22 said:
What if there's just a ghost moving through them...

And you think these "ghosts" are the model we use to design the semiconductors that you are currently using in your modern electronics, including the computer you are currently using? Or what about the research in the medicine and biochemistry that you or your family are benefiting if, heaven forbid, one of you become sick? What do you think is the fundamental model in all those studies? Ghosts?

Zz.

[I see this thread going nowhere fast]
 
  • #5
Well atleast at some place they can be claimed to be ghosts..like
they can be ghosts in the form of atom bombs
 
  • #6
THX, are you interested in learning how these theories came about and why they are solid, or are you more interested in espousing your own views?
 
  • #7
ZapperZ said:
[I see this thread going nowhere fast]
It went from zero to nowhere in one post. That's pretty darned fast.

THX22 said:
It begs the question why do such people waste their time on this when they know they can never really find out what's going on?
Because the theory works very well up to this point. I will be waiting for your independently published works that will dubunk the notion of the atom as we know it to be.
 
  • #8
THX22 said:
It begs the question why do such people waste their time on this...

Have you or a loved one even been in a medical situation that required X-rays, or an MRI, or perhaps radiation therapy for cancer?
Those of us who have can gratefully thank the efforts of nuclear science.
 
  • #9
No one can escape the ghost...
 
  • #10
THX22 said:
No one can escape the ghost...

Hey, look, another garbage thread from THX22. Wave bye-bye, THX22.

- Warren
 

1. What do you mean by "atoms are ghostly things"?

"Atoms are ghostly things" is a metaphor used to describe the elusive and unpredictable behavior of atoms. Just like ghosts, atoms cannot be seen with the naked eye and they have the ability to pass through solid objects.

2. Are atoms actually invisible?

While atoms cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can be observed using scientific instruments such as microscopes and particle accelerators. These instruments allow us to indirectly observe the effects of atoms and their behavior.

3. How does the ghostly nature of atoms affect their behavior?

Atoms are governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, which describe the unpredictable and probabilistic behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. This means that the behavior of atoms can be difficult to predict and can appear to be "ghostly" in nature.

4. Can atoms pass through solid objects like ghosts?

While atoms can move through empty space and even pass through other atoms, they cannot pass through solid objects like ghosts. Atoms are held together by strong forces that prevent them from passing through solid barriers.

5. Do all atoms behave in a ghostly manner?

Yes, all atoms exhibit ghostly behavior at the atomic level. This is due to their small size and the laws of quantum mechanics that govern their behavior. However, at the macroscopic level, atoms behave in a predictable and solid manner.

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