Homework Help Overview
The discussion revolves around a proportionality question in introductory physics, specifically comparing the sizes of a proton and a hydrogen atom when both are enlarged proportionally. The original poster presents a calculation involving the radii of both particles and seeks clarification on the resulting size of the hydrogen atom when the proton is scaled up to the size of a marble.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation
Approaches and Questions Raised
- The original poster attempts to calculate the enlarged size of a hydrogen atom based on the proportional increase of a proton's size. Some participants suggest setting up a ratio to find the unknown size of the hydrogen atom, while others question the interpretation of the ratio and how it relates to the known size difference between the two particles.
Discussion Status
Participants are actively discussing the proportional relationship between the sizes of the proton and hydrogen atom. There is an ongoing exploration of how to set up the equations correctly, and some guidance has been offered regarding the use of ratios. However, there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or final answer yet.
Contextual Notes
Participants are working under the assumption that the scaling factor between the proton and hydrogen atom is consistent, with the known ratio of their sizes being approximately 50,000 times. There is a focus on ensuring that the calculations reflect this proportionality accurately.