Why we can never truly see an atom, yet still know they exist.
In short: Eric M. Rogers opens his 1979 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures by exploring the invisible world of atoms. Through classic demonstrations, he explains why light is too large to reveal them directly and how we use indirect evidence and models to understand the building blocks of matter.
Atoms are far too small to be observed directly because the wavelength of visible light is significantly larger than the particles themselves. Because of this, our understanding of atomic structure relies on indirect experimental evidence and the use of imaginative models. This knowledge is relatively recent, with much of it developing only within the last century, requiring the invention of advanced technology like vacuum pumps and high-voltage electronics to progress.
The lecture series uses a logarithmic scale to map the vast size differences between humans and atoms, a method similar to how we perceive sound octaves or the brightness of light. Rogers demonstrates these concepts through the behavior of liquids, including surface tension, molecular forces in waterproofing, and the strange physics of boiling and freezing.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Getting to know atoms - Eric M. Rogers' 1979 Christmas Lectures 1/6
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