Re: are atoms conceptual placeholders or perceived entities?
- From: Bruce Scott TOK <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]>
- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:20:08 +0100 (MET)
Andy Resnick wrote:
metaperl wrote:
Hi, I think the title says it all. I'm wondering if atoms and their
grade-school component parts, the proton, neutron, and electron have
all been seen or if they are simply conceptually necessary to explain
other more macroscopic phenomena.
I think this is more a philosophical question than a scientific
question. Certaily, a lot of physics does not require the existence of
atoms: thermodynamics and continuum mechanics, and general relativity
for that matter.
Those constructs you mention above are just that- conceptual entities
invented by humans to explain the results of verious experiments. The
question of "existence" is not properly science.
However, in the case of atoms, we can say we've observed individual
objects which do have the properties we associate with the conceptual
entities we call "atoms". In this sense, atoms have been directly
observed (with tunneling electron microscopy IIRC). With individual
particles it is trickier... we observe deflection events or cloud
chamber traces which we can associate with the mathematical constructs
of a particle with a measurable e/m in a space filled with energy
satisfying the properties we associate with the mathematical construct
of a static electromagnetic field. But we do say we've observed the
deflection of a charged particle when the results of these experiments
are laid in front of us.
One can get into endless linguistic detail about the philosophy. But I
must admit I find that very tedious.
--
ciao,
Bruce
drift wave turbulence: http://www.rzg.mpg.de/~bds/
.
- References:
- are atoms conceptual placeholders or perceived entities?
- From: metaperl
- Re: are atoms conceptual placeholders or perceived entities?
- From: Andy Resnick
- are atoms conceptual placeholders or perceived entities?
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