Here is a quick question for you. What is everything in this world made of? When I say everything I mean everything, the Chair you are sitting on… The Ipad or the laptop in front of you…Your favorite toy… Your favorite drink.
ATOMS.
Atoms are the building blocks of life. You are made up of billions and billions of atoms. So is everything.
How big are they? Take a pencil and make a dot on a paper. And in that dot, you have millions of atoms. Yup, they are really small.
Is there anything inside of those atoms? Yes. At the center of the tiny atom is a nucleus* made up of subatomic particles called protons and neutrons. Whooshing around the nucleus at amazing speed are the electrons. Think about this. If the atoms are small, how small are the subatomic particles? Teensy- Weensy.
When I first learnt of atoms, my first question was how did it get its name? It comes from Greek word ‘atomos’ meaning indivisible/’uncuttable’. It just means that you cannot cut an atom into anything smaller.
You cannot see an atom with your naked eye or a regular microscope. You need a very powerful microscope for that. There are over hundred types of atoms. Mixing and matching them is what makes everything in this universe.
This week’s challenge – write about your favorite element (e.g. Hydrogen, Helium, Silicon etc.), the number of electrons, protons and neutrons in your favorite element, and most importantly why is it your favorite element.
*Nucleus – Control Center
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons – Particles inside atom
Image source: Atom – http://www.flickr.com/photos/prolithic/6616679503/sizes/m/in/photostream/