Atom smashing machine

The alpha particles could be obtained from a natural decay process. At present, a variety of particles can be used to bombard nuclei (Table 22-3), some of which are raised to high energies in atom smashing machines. Again, nuclear equations can be written, in which the net charge and the total of the mass numbers on one side must be the same as their counterparts on the other side. 

In recent years it has been necessary" to change Dalton s idea of an atom as being the smallest indivisible part of an element. Nowadays we have machines, such as the cyclotron, that can bombard, or smash atoms into still smaller parts—neutrons, and electrically charged protons and electrons. According to today s atomic theory protons and neutrons form the nucleus of the atom and electrons whirl around the nucleus with such tremendous speed that they seem to form a shell around it. 

Scientists Can Fllttf-Wt Smash Atoms m°re Particle accelerators are giant machines used by scientists to discover subatomic particles. 

These machines move atoms and subatomic particles very fast. Then they smash them together Special photographs and computer images from the accelerator show the impact. The picture below shows the trails left by particles. 

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