Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Atom

2007-10-08T19:16:56Z

Garklieo:

:''This page is over '''atoms'''. Atoms are theory, '''not a fact'''. Information presented in this article should be critically interpreted and taken with an open mind. There are true challenges to this debated theory including the [[intelligent matter]] theory''.

[[Image:Atoms1.jpg|thumb|right|Subatomic resolution of atoms by AFM]]
An '''atom''' is the smallest unit of chemical element that still retains the element's properties. The word atom comes from the Greek term for indivisible, ''átomos''.

===Structure===
Atoms are comprised of three subatomic particles: positively charged [[proton]]s, electrically neutral [[neutron]]s and negatively charged [[electron]]s. Protons and neutrons are comprised of quarks and are contained in close proximity in the center of an atom, forming the [[nucleus]]. Electrons inhabit the space around the nucleus, and are arranged around it in a series of layers, known as [[electron shell|shells]] or energy levels.
Currently quarks and electrons are considered truly elementary particles, though neither are capable of being seen.

Those who understand electrical theory might notice that positively charged particles packed closely together would repel one another. The nucleus stays together because of what is known as the ''strong nuclear force''. The quantization of this force is a tiny particle called a "gluon".
===Atomic Number===

Chemical elements are made up of atoms with certain properties. The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom (known as the [[atomic number]]) determine the properties of the atom, and the element it constitutes. For example, [[Hydrogen]] has one proton, and therefore an atomic number of 1. [[Oxygen]] has 8 protons in its nucleus and has an atomic number of 8. Under normal conditions, atoms contain an equal number of protons and electrons.

===Ions===

Atoms are normally electrically neutral; they have no charge. However, electrons in the [[valence shell]] can be gained or lost (depending on the element and the conditions) to form an [[ion]]. An atom that loses electrons becomes positively charged and is known as a cation. An atom that gains electrons electrons becomes negatively charged and is known as an anion.

Many common substances are made up of ions. For example, [[sodium chloride]] (NaCl), otherwise known as table salt, is made up of [[sodium cations]] (Na+) and [[chlorine]] anions (Cl-) in equal proportions. The negatively charged chlorine ions are attracted to the positively charged sodium ions, forming an [[ionic bond]]. This results in a lattice structure, which is responsible for sodium chloride being crystalline in its solid state.

===Isotopes===

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are known as isotopes. Some isotopes are more stable than others, and occur more often in nature, but there is no "standard" number of neutrons in a given element. The atomic weight of an element is a weighted average of the number of neutrons and protons (number of protons remains constant in a given element) in all naturally occurring isotopes.
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Gravitation

2007-10-08T19:16:23Z

Garklieo:

:''This page is over '''gravity'''. Gravity is a theory, '''not a fact'''. Information presented in this article should be critically interpreted and taken with an open mind. There are true challenges to this debated theory including the [[intelligent falling]] theory''.
'''Gravitation''' is a [[phenomenon]] which attracts all objects within the [[universe]] to each other <ref>New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd Edition</ref>. In modern [[physics]], it is explained by the [[Theory of relativity|General Theory of relativity]]. Before general relativity, gravitation was described by [[Sir Isaac Newton|Isaac Newton's]] law of universal gravitation, which is still useful in most situations.

Everything in the universe that has mass attracts every other thing that has mass. How much depends on the size of the masses and the distance between them. For normal objects, this pull is minute, but you can measure the pull between a very large object like the [[Earth]] and another object like you by standing on the scales. Your weight is the measure of the pull of gravity between you and the planet you are standing on. This force depends on your mass and the mass of that planet, but it also depends on your distance from the center of the planet. The further you are from the planet's center, the weaker the pull between it and your body. If you double your distance, the force is one quarter. At ten times the distance, the force is one hundredth. It drops off with the square of the distance. This is called the [[Inverse Square Law.]] <ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/forces/isq.html</ref>The force never becomes zero, no matter how far you travel.

The law itself is stated as

:<math>F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}</math>

Where the force due to gravity equals the mass of the first object, ''m''1, is multiplied by the mass of the second object, ''m''2, which is then divided by the distace between the center of mass of both objects, r, squared. This is then multipled by the [[gravitational constant]]: 6.67428x10-11 N m2 Kg -2

Gravitation is responsible for making objects accelerate towards each other as well as for the formation of the [[Earth]] and [[Sun]], the [[stars]] and the [[planets]].

==Gravity and Modern Physics==
Newton's [[Theory of Gravity]] was one of the earliest triumphs of modern [[physics]]. It now stands as both one of the most successful and most mysterious areas of that field. On one hand, the [[Theory_of_Relativity|General theory of Relativity]] is one of the most successful [[Scientific_Theory|scientific theories]] to date. On the other hand, how General Relativity might be reconciled with [[Quantum_mechanics|quantum physics]] during the first few milliseconds of the [[Big Bang]] remains an open question, and is one of the hotly contested areas among modern theoretical physicists. In the 1980s [[string theory]] was seen by many physicists as a more likely path towards a particular unification of gravity with the other fundamental forces (electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces), but the theory has been a failure.

== Christianity and Gravity ==

Some Christians do not believe in gravity. This is because it does not line up with Biblical accounts of how the universe works. It is known that the Earth is flat, and sits upon foundations (set by God himself). Also that the sun and other planets revolve around the earth. However, if there were such a thing as gravity then the Sun and other planets would simply fall, they wouldn't float and revolve around the earth. Also, Jesus ascended into Heaven. Again, not possible if gravity is real. And so instead of gravity it is thought that God simply keeps everything in balance. He creates a force around most of us much like gravity, because its useful for us. However, he lifts that force when need be (ie for the planets to revolve, and for Jesus to get to heaven).

== References ==
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[[category:physics]]

Gravitation

2007-10-08T18:49:17Z

Garklieo:

Atom

2007-10-08T18:48:47Z

Garklieo: