15Apr 2019 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Is Gravity in Atoms Significant? No. Prove It!

Mathematics, Physics
[caption id="attachment_23683" align="alignright" width="480"] Is there gravity in the atom?[/caption] Theories of the microscopic never seem to include reference to gravity in the atom. Should they? What do you think? Numbers don’t lie: The reality is, gravity inside the atom is pretty insignificant. Let’s look at this in terms of scale, and then examine the equations for determining gravitational pull. Atoms and our Scale of Reference It is the human tendency to draw conclusions – with reference to the extremely large and the extremely small – on the basis of what we experience in our scale of reference. In fact, much good science has been realized using such assumptions. But only much good science – by no means all. In fact, many of the most incredible discoveries have not been…
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02Jul 2016 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

Why All Helium Has Not Escaped Earth’s Atmosphere

Geology, Physics
[caption id="attachment_14665" align="alignright" width="440"] Hydrogen or Helium?[/caption] Ninety of the elements occur in nature. The smallest and lightest of the elements is hydrogen. Yet, it is abundant in Earth. Almost no hydrogen gas escapes Earth’s atmosphere. This is partly because hydrogen is reactive and exists almost exclusively in combination with other, heavier elements. Helium, too, is a gas. It is the second lightest element. However, it is neither reactive nor abundant. It does not occur in nature in compound form. Why doesn’t it all escape Earth’s atmosphere? Comparing Hydrogen and Helium Although hydrogen is the lightest element and atom, it almost never exists, even as a gas, in atomic form. It assumes, not monatomic form, H, but diatomic form, H₂. The weight of that is twice the weight of an…
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09Mar 2016 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Difference between Fission and Fusion?

Physics
[caption id="attachment_13674" align="alignright" width="440"] Deuterium-Tritium Fusion[/caption] In the 1900s, seeming peace was rudely interrupted by two developments in nuclear science. The first was fission. The second was fusion. Both can be used in positive ways. But rarely does mankind focus on good. What’s the difference between fission and fusion? Fission Fission is the dividing or splitting of something. This word well applies to the splitting of the atom. More often than not, that atom is the uranium atom. In particular, it is 235U. The 235 stands for isotope atomic weight. There are other isotopes of uranium, most notably 238U. Atoms are fissionable with a net release of energy if they have an atomic weight higher than approximately that of iron. Fusion Fusion behaves in the opposite manner. Fusion is defined…
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18Aug 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Factors that Complicate Atomic Mass Determination

Physics
[caption id="attachment_8319" align="alignright" width="440"] Nucleus - CC-SA-3.0 by Marekich[/caption] Modern chemistry depends a good deal upon accurately knowing the atomic mass of each of the elements. What factors complicate determining those values? Each of the approximately 90 different natural-occurring elements possesses a nucleus or central core of protons and neutrons, in addition to electrons that orbit around the nucleus. It is important to the chemist or physicist to know the total mass of each element. Can correct values be obtained simply by summing the weight of individual particles in an atom? After all, each of these particles has a precisely known mass. The answer is, No! Such calculations disagree with experimental measurement. An example illustrates the point. Consider Helium-3 An atom of helium-3 has two protons, one neutron, and two…
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23Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

The One Cell Blob Amoeba

Biology
[caption id="attachment_19430" align="alignright" width="440"] Giant Amoeba - Chaos carolinense - Dr.Tsukii Yuuji. Image edited.[/caption] The amoeba is probably everybody’s concept of the simplest life form this earth has to offer. Consisting of one cell, with no particular shape, this nearly shapeless creature has featured in science fiction B-movies, portraying a monster that encompasses its victim from all sides, sucking it into oblivion, absorbing the poor captive into its protoplasm. Here is an image of the so-called brain-eating version (Naegleria fowleri). The CDC explores the topic of this one-celled species to a great extent, providing much information on it. [caption id="attachment_7879" align="alignright" width="300"] The brain-eating amoeba. Image CDC[/caption] Anatomy The amoeba possesses a cell wall, which encompasses its protoplasm. Its shape is completely mobile, and it can surround prey, re-forming its…
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28Oct 2013 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Silicon Tetrachloride Acts Like a Strongly Electronegative Atom

Chemistry
[caption id="attachment_5121" align="alignright" width="440"] Silicon Tetrachloride Molecule[/caption] The empirical formula of the compound silicon tetrachloride is SiCl₄. The molecule possesses tetrahedral symmetry. This means the atom of silicon is located at the center and the four atoms of chlorine are located at the four corners of a tetrahedron. Each chlorine atom is strongly electronegative, so the molecule of SiCl₄ strongly draws electrons. The core, silicon atom is insignificantly electronegative. Elemental Electronegativity Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom or other particle to attract electrons. It is high when an atom is small and outer electrons are least shielded from the positive nucleus. This makes fluorine the most electronegative of elements. Conversely, the alkali metal astatine, is least electronegative. Chlorine, while not so much so as fluorine, is still very electronegative.…
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