Are we closer to atomic scales than to colossal star scales?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the comparative scales of atomic particles and colossal stars, questioning whether humans are more significantly larger than the smallest known particles or smaller than the largest stars. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and conceptual analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the relative sizes of humans compared to atomic particles and large stars.
  • Another participant suggests conducting an order of magnitude analysis using standard units, providing estimates for the size of the largest known star and the diameter of the Sun.
  • A third participant provides specific measurements for the diameter of the Sun and a carbon atom, calculating their relative sizes in relation to one meter.
  • There is a question raised about whether the inquiry is more physics or mathematics oriented.
  • A later reply mentions an interesting graph related to the discussion and prompts curiosity about its implications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express interest in the topic and engage in calculations, but there is no consensus on the implications or the nature of the question (physics vs. mathematics). The discussion remains exploratory and unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on specific measurements and assumptions about the sizes of stars and atomic particles, which may vary based on the definitions and choices of examples used.

Sarcastic14
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Uh, I don't know if this suits the topic, but I've been wondering about this.

Are we more times bigger than the smallest particle we know about than we are smaller than the large stars?
 
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I'm not sure if it does, either, but it is interesting. If you want to figure out the answer, do an order of magnitude analysis. Pick standard units, say, meters. We as humans are on the order of 2 meters, so on the order of 1. Doing a quick google search, I found one of the largest (if not the largest) star we know of has a radius 2100 times our sun, which is about 1.4 million km (2.8 M km diameter). http://www.universetoday.com/13507/what-is-the-biggest-star-in-the-universe/"

That would make it on the order of 10^3*10^6*10^3 ~ 10^12

Likewise we could do the same for the smallest particle.

Let me know what you find out. I don't have the time to finish the search right now, but would love to know what you find out.
 
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Diameter of the Sun, in meters: 1 391 000 000 ~ 1.4 x 109
Diameter of a carbon atom, in meters: 0.000 000 000 22 ~ 2.2 x 10-10
The inverse of the carbon diameter is: 4 545 454 545 ~ 4.5 x 109

4 545 454 545 <- Carbon atom is this many times smaller than 1 meter
1 391 000 000 <- Sun is this many times larger than 1 meter

Both of these are pretty close. Carbon is a mid range common atom, and the Sun is a mid range common sized star. You could probably make either larger than the other by using different choices.
 
Is this a phyics or maths question?

The following graph (after Majid) might be interesting.

go well
 

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Thank you all for your answers :)
 
Interesting graph.

I wonder what lies in the line intercept?
 

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