Basic atomic physics: Difference between revisions
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The term '''atom''' comes from the negating prefix '''''a-''''' and the root word, '''''tomos''''' ancient Greek for a '''cut''' or '''slice'''. ''(compare [[Wiktionary:Tomography|Tomography]])'' — that is, not divisable into parts. Today we know that atoms can indeed be divided ([[Wikipedia:Cyclotron|though not easily]]) into ''sub''atomic parts, but the term has allowed a logical entry into the cosmos of the physical universe since ancient times. In [[Basic atomic physics]], we will introduce theoretical (atomic) physics to the reader who is "not conversant with the mathematical apparatus | The term '''atom''' comes from the negating prefix '''''a-''''' and the root word, '''''tomos''''' ancient Greek for a '''cut''' or '''slice'''. ''(compare [[Wiktionary:Tomography|Tomography]])'' — that is, not divisable into parts. Today we know that atoms can indeed be divided ([[Wikipedia:Cyclotron|though not easily]]) into ''sub''atomic parts, but the term has allowed a logical entry into the cosmos of the physical universe since ancient times. In [[Basic atomic physics]], we will introduce theoretical (atomic) physics to the reader who is "not conversant with the mathematical apparatus | ||
of theoretical physics [http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=12465&pageno=3]" but keenly interested and determined to learn the topic. ''See the [[ | of theoretical physics [http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=12465&pageno=3]" but keenly interested and determined to learn the topic. ''See the [[Physics|School of Physics]] for this article's placement within the curriculum.'' | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Early thinkers, such as [[Wikipedia:Democritus|Democritus]], [[Wikipedia:Ptolomy|Ptolomy]] and [[Wikipedia:Euclid|Euclid]] and a host of other giants upon whose shoulders stood contemporaries such as [[Wikipedia:Rene Descartes|Descartes]], [[Wikipedia:Issac Newton|Newton]] and [[Wikipedia:Albert Einstein|Einstein]] believed that the World was ''comprehensible''. Had they not believed this, they might have abandoned their studies to simply accept superstition and malformed faith, returning to a life of nescient practice. It's a good thing for [[ | Early thinkers, such as [[Wikipedia:Democritus|Democritus]], [[Wikipedia:Ptolomy|Ptolomy]] and [[Wikipedia:Euclid|Euclid]] and a host of other giants upon whose shoulders stood contemporaries such as [[Wikipedia:Rene Descartes|Descartes]], [[Wikipedia:Issac Newton|Newton]] and [[Wikipedia:Albert Einstein|Einstein]] believed that the World was ''comprehensible''. Had they not believed this, they might have abandoned their studies to simply accept superstition and malformed faith, returning to a life of nescient practice. It's a good thing for [[Physics|us]] that they described at least a starting point for conceptual physical [[Wikipedia:unity|unity]] to the tiniest, most fundemental things they could think of. | ||
Atomic physics is a subject about [[Wiktionary:power|power]]s, [[Wiktionary:object|object]]s, [[Wiktionary:force|force]]s, [[Wiktionary:motion|motion]] and [[Wiktionary:change|change]]. It is a quintessential study of [[Wikipedia:reality|reality]] that ''can be'' both sensed and concieved ''if'' a consice, succint, accurate, flexible, and dynamic language is shared among its proponents. Learning this language, the [[Mathematics of Theoretical Physics]] perhaps ''should be'' the primary goal of the physics student. | Atomic physics is a subject about [[Wiktionary:power|power]]s, [[Wiktionary:object|object]]s, [[Wiktionary:force|force]]s, [[Wiktionary:motion|motion]] and [[Wiktionary:change|change]]. It is a quintessential study of [[Wikipedia:reality|reality]] that ''can be'' both sensed and concieved ''if'' a consice, succint, accurate, flexible, and dynamic language is shared among its proponents. Learning this language, the [[Mathematics of Theoretical Physics]] perhaps ''should be'' the primary goal of the physics student. | ||
As Einstien did in his book, ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/5001 Relativity : the Special and General Theory]'', this course will advance the learner (and some teachers) in a "step-motherly" fashion so that "readers unfamiliar with physics may | As Einstien did in his book, ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/5001 Relativity : the Special and General Theory]'', this course will advance the learner (and some teachers) in a "step-motherly" fashion so that "readers unfamiliar with physics may | ||
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==Belief and reality== | ==Belief and reality== | ||
[[Image:Mug and Torus morph.gif|thumb|right|Mathematical apparatus: How powerful is math?]] | [[Image:Mug and Torus morph.gif|thumb|right|Mathematical apparatus: How powerful is math?]] | ||
Imagine a young [[Wikipedia:Pythagoras|Pythagoras]] sitting cross-legged on a Samian beach with his new [[Wikipedia:lyre|lyre]]. With the index finger of one hand he gently touches the midpoint of a string, while carefully plucking it with the thumbnail of his other hand. Does this have anything to do with atomic physics? The English '''[[ | Imagine a young [[Wikipedia:Pythagoras|Pythagoras]] sitting cross-legged on a Samian beach with his new [[Wikipedia:lyre|lyre]]. With the index finger of one hand he gently touches the midpoint of a string, while carefully plucking it with the thumbnail of his other hand. Does this have anything to do with atomic physics? The English '''[[Chemistry|chemist]]''', [[Wikipedia:John Newlands|John Newlands]] might have thought so. | ||
:'''''Think:''''' ''The term '''[[Wiktionary:octave|octave]]''' is used in both Music and Physics. ''See [[Wikipedia:Periodic table|Periodic table]], [[Wikipedia:Electron shell|Electron shell]], [[Wikipedia:Musical acoustics|Musical acoustics]]'' | :'''''Think:''''' ''The term '''[[Wiktionary:octave|octave]]''' is used in both Music and Physics. ''See [[Wikipedia:Periodic table|Periodic table]], [[Wikipedia:Electron shell|Electron shell]], [[Wikipedia:Musical acoustics|Musical acoustics]]'' | ||
::Why was Newlands, who noticed in 1865 that the elements of similar type recurred at intervals of eight, ridiculed by his contemporaries for his "law of octaves"? | ::Why was Newlands, who noticed in 1865 that the elements of similar type recurred at intervals of eight, ridiculed by his contemporaries for his "law of octaves"? | ||
:::<small>''Hint: see [[Wikipedia:Pathological science|Pathological science]]''</small> | :::<small>''Hint: see [[Wikipedia:Pathological science|Pathological science]]''</small> | ||
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