Questions about Atomic Structure / Sub atomic particles

[markearthling]

When subatomic particles are discussed what exactly are we talking about ?

( as I understand it things like protons/neutrons (nucleus), electrons,

quarks, gluons ( hadrons ?) etc are all considered to be subatomic particles ?).

 

According to the einstein equation (E=MC^2) am I right in assuming

that an atom is pure energy ( over simplistic ? ) and it's mass can be

fully converted to energy ( 100% efficiently or possibly not [ other products

of light, heat, sound, radiation etc ]) ?

 

So are subatomic particles like little packets of energy or if not do we know

what they are ?

 

Would it be valid to consider all mass from micro to macro level

as "mass energy" ?

 

 

The structure of the atom as we think we know it is very interesting.

(protons and neutrons in the nucleus and other subatomic particles

and electrons orbitting in valence shell orbits on the outside).

Are we correct in thinking that the electrons actually do

orbit the nucleus ? Where have we discovered this ?

 

Is the old "drop" theory of atomic structure even considered

anymore (I think that's what it was called) ?

 

Is it possible that the atom might have something in it like

an energy gradient which varies from most dense in the nucleus

to less dense at the outside where the electrons are ?

i.e. if the "gradient" is not at it's max and has room

for the energy of one more electron (empty valence shell

at the outside) then it accepts an electron. ?

 

If the atom was actually like a blob of energy with an energy gradient

from nucleus to outside then when we atom smash aren't

we knocking little blobs of energy off the atom which spin this way

or that (depending on the energy level of the particles smashing the

atom then we get smaller or bigger blobs of energy breaking off ?) ?

 

So are the sub atomic particles themselves some kind of

localised energy gradient which exist separately inside the

atom or do they not actually exist and are maybe just

part of the atoms' gross energy before they are knocked

off as energy blobs by the smashing process ?

(maybe electron flow is like some form of energy blob

exchange ?).

 

or maybe subatomic particles are something else altogether.

[markearthling]

Perhaps I should have posted this over at Speculations ( Capnreffsmat/Swansont ?)

 

Sorry about that (I guess it is mostly speculation).

 

I will know infuture what to do.

 

If you want to move it (or perhaps there is no merit in

what I am trying to express)

that is fine by me.

 

thanks

[ajb]

When subatomic particles are discussed what exactly are we talking about ?

( as I understand it things like protons/neutrons (nucleus), electrons,

quarks, gluons ( hadrons ?) etc are all considered to be subatomic particles ?).

 

Yes, things like electrons, protons, neutrons etc...

 

 

According to the einstein equation (E=MC^2) am I right in assuming

that an atom is pure energy ( over simplistic ? ) and it's mass can be

fully converted to energy ( 100% efficiently or possibly not [ other products

of light, heat, sound, radiation etc ]) ?

 

Energy is really a property of "stuff" and so you should not think of atoms or photons as being pure energy.

[markearthling]

ajb

 

Thanks for what you said I get it that these things may not be pure energy.

 

 

Energy is really a property of "stuff" and so you should not think of atoms or

photons as being pure energy.

 

I am not criticising what you said it's just that I'm

not sure what exactly you mean by "stuff" ?

 

Also I am having problems making this quite facility work.

 

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong ?

 

Sorry that was "quote facility".

[ajb]

By "stuff" I mean particles and fields. Pure energy is a misnomer, energy is a property of particles and fields.

[swansont]

 

Also I am having problems making this quite facility work.

 

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong ?

 

Sorry that was "quote facility".

 

The quote tags have to go inside of square brackets

Blah blah blah

gives you

 

Blah blah blah