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Wikkid333 · Jun 10, 2009, 10:55 PM

I have researched for days and cannot seem to find an answer to several physics/quantum physics questions; but I will ask a single question:

Atoms are said to be made up of energy and particles/subatomic particles. Models show the particles as spherical in shape. What are these (subatomic)particles made of? Are they spheres of energy filled with space?

I have read or heard it referred to as energy or matter, but to my understanding matter is what molecules form. I have heard that the force that holds the particles to orbit the nucleus is energy, but no one seems to say what the particles themselves or composed of.

Perito · Jun 11, 2009, 04:17 AM

Atoms are made of Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons:

Atom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The nucleus of the atom is composed of neutrons and protons. Electrons form a cloud around the nucleus.

Neutrons and protons are believed to be formed by quarks. The quarks are believed to be held together by a Strong Nuclear Force that is mediated by some particle called Gluons.

What are quarks are made of? Quark might be Quark, whatever that is. Eventually, we must come down to some indivisible particle.

The Wikipedia article has a lot more information.

TUT317 · Jun 13, 2009, 03:42 PM

String Theory may be of some help here.

Wikkid333 · Jun 14, 2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Perito

Atoms are made of Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons:

Atom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The nucleus of the atom is composed of neutrons and protons. Electrons form a cloud around the nucleus.

Neutrons and protons are believed to be formed by quarks. The quarks are believed to be held together by a Strong Nuclear Force that is mediated by some particle called Gluons.

What are quarks are made of? Quark might be Quark, whatever that is. Eventually, we must come down to some indivisible particle.

The Wikipedia article has a lot more information.

I know and have read this hundreds of times. What I don't know is what the particles are made of. In the model of the particles, the particles compositions are represented by spheres. What do these spheres represent? Is it energy or what?

Perito · Jun 15, 2009, 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by Wikkid333

I know and have read this hundreds of times. What I don't know is what the particles are made of. in the model of the particles, the particles compositions are represented by spheres. What do these spheres represent? Is it energy or what?

If I said they were made of concrete or rubber, would that make sense? Protons are made of Proton, whatever that is, or Quark. I guess I can't tell you what they're made of because, it's just matter -- nothing more.

TUT317 · Jun 15, 2009, 05:43 AM

The spherical model is somewhat outdated. String theory claims that tiny 2 dimensional threads of vibrating energy are the fundamental building blocks of matter. Basically, strings is where it ends. However, we need to keep in mind that it is just a theory. No one has ever seen a string and probably never will because they are so tiny. If a string were the height of a tall tree then an atom would be a least the size of our galaxy.

Einstein said that matter and energy are interchangeable, so I guess the answer to your question is that the basic building block of matter consists of pure energy.

Capuchin · Jun 15, 2009, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by TUT317

The spherical model is somewhat outdated. String theory claims that tiny 2 dimensional threads of vibrating energy are the fundamental building blocks of matter. Basically, strings is where it ends. However, we need to keep in mind that it is just a theory. No one has ever seen a string and probably never will because they are so tiny. If a string were the height of a tall tree then an atom would be a least the size of our galaxy.

Einstein said that matter and energy are interchangeable, so I guess the answer to your question is that the basic building block of matter consists of pure energy.

I think you mean "just a hypothesis"