What Happens When Atoms Die?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the forces that govern atomic structure and the concept of atomic decay. The electromagnetic force, specifically the Coulomb force, keeps electrons in orbit around the nucleus, while the Strong force binds protons and neutrons within the nucleus. Atoms do not "die" in the traditional sense; instead, they can undergo decay through processes like beta decay or transform under extreme conditions, such as in neutron stars or black holes. Theories regarding atomic stability and decay are still evolving, with some configurations potentially remaining stable indefinitely.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic force and Coulomb's law
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and atomic structure
  • Familiarity with nuclear forces: Strong and Weak forces
  • Concept of atomic decay and radioactivity
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of Quantum Mechanics, focusing on electron behavior in atoms
  • Explore the Strong and Weak nuclear forces and their roles in atomic stability
  • Research the processes of beta decay and other forms of radioactive decay
  • Investigate the conditions in neutron stars and black holes and their effects on atomic structure
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, researchers in atomic and nuclear science, and anyone interested in the fundamental forces governing matter and atomic decay.

  • #31
@Malvern
I am not sure where you want to take this.
You seem to be aiming at some sort of model that is a mix of classical and quantum. This will not yield valid results. I don't know what your level of knowledge of QM is but, if you read around it, you will find the answers to most of your questions and objections. btw, the Hydrogen Atom model is quite inadequate for discussing any situation other than an isolated atom or the behaviour of a low pressure gas.

And "deceleration" is normally regarded as acceleration with a negative sign. (see above). Look up Laser Cooling to find out where the released photons go. They must be produced or the temperature would not reduce.
 
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  • #32
sophiecentaur said:
@Malvern
I am not sure where you want to take this.
You seem to be aiming at some sort of model that is a mix of classical and quantum. This will not yield valid results. I don't know what your level of knowledge of QM is but, if you read around it, you will find the answers to most of your questions and objections. btw, the Hydrogen Atom model is quite inadequate for discussing any situation other than an isolated atom or the behaviour of a low pressure gas.

And "deceleration" is normally regarded as acceleration with a negative sign. (see above). Look up Laser Cooling to find out where the released photons go. They must be produced or the temperature would not reduce.

I am just asking questions.
I think that here someone who understands this better than me can answer them.

This is written as cause of cooling when lasers are used

If an atom is traveling toward a laser beam and absorbs a photon from the laser, it will be slowed by the fact that the photon has momentum p = E/c = h/λ.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/optmod/lascool.html

If we don't know what is happening with a single atom, how can be sure, that we know what happens with group of atoms?
Isolated single atom is OK for begining.
 
  • #33
when a thing breaks into 2 than its goes towards 0
 
  • #34
Malverin said:
I am just asking questions.
I think that here someone who understands this better than me can answer them.

There have been a lot of good answers but you do not appear to be accepting them. This is not a topic that will work on your own terms. Pretty much everything you have been told is quite consistent and contains what you need to know. Try reading it all again (and general reading around too) rather than arguing the case for your viewpoint.
 
  • #35
sophiecentaur said:
There have been a lot of good answers but you do not appear to be accepting them. This is not a topic that will work on your own terms. Pretty much everything you have been told is quite consistent and contains what you need to know. Try reading it all again (and general reading around too) rather than arguing the case for your viewpoint.

I am asking for explanation.
If I ask ""Why the Sun is yellow?"

The answer can be "Because everyone can see it is."
That is true, but it won't give me more uderstanding, right?

Of cource I can read, and I have, what QM says about this.

What I need to know is

Why it is so?
What is the cause for this?
 
  • #36
The Sun is said to be yellow because we have rough names for all the colours we perceive. Because of our crude sense of light wavelengths we cannot do spectrometric analyse of the light we see. Colour is a matter of psychophysics and not Physics. You could find out about the tristimulus theory of colour vision and find out how it works. (It is not as simple as you may think.) It will not actually tell you 'why', though, but 'how'.

If you have read about QM and how the basics are derived then you must know that there is no answer to the 'why' question. In fact there is no askable 'why' question in QM. There are only connective relationships between quantities.
You may need to put more personal effort into this, rather than expecting someone else to flick a switch of understanding in your brain at your present state of knowledge. This is usually the way, I'm afraid.
 
  • #37
sophiecentaur said:
The Sun is said to be yellow because we have rough names for all the colours we perceive. Because of our crude sense of light wavelengths we cannot do spectrometric analyse of the light we see. Colour is a matter of psychophysics and not Physics. You could find out about the tristimulus theory of colour vision and find out how it works. (It is not as simple as you may think.) It will not actually tell you 'why', though, but 'how'.

If you have read about QM and how the basics are derived then you must know that there is no answer to the 'why' question. In fact there is no askable 'why' question in QM. There are only connective relationships between quantities.
You may need to put more personal effort into this, rather than expecting someone else to flick a switch of understanding in your brain at your present state of knowledge. This is usually the way, I'm afraid.

Don't ask 'why' . Interesting advice :approve:

Ok, I will read more and hope that understanding will come to me.
Thank you all for your answers and patience.
 
  • #39
sophiecentaur said:
Everyone believes Richard Feinman and here is what he has to say about asking 'why'.

He says, that 'Why?' always brings many other 'whys' with it self.
And your knowledge and understanding, deppends on how many of this 'whys' you can answer.
So 'Why' is maybe the most important question you can ask, because it's answers, expand your knowledge and understanding :approve:
 
Last edited:
  • #40
Oh yes. 'Why' is ok to ask as long as you don't expect a definitive answer.
 
  • #41
≈
Malverin said:
He says, that 'Why?' always brings many other 'whys' with it self.
And your knowledge and understanding, deppends on how many of this 'whys' you can answer.
So 'Why' is maybe the most important question you can ask, because it's answers, expand your knowledge and understanding :approve:

It might be important, but it's not science:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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