Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
The most obvious place to start looking for misconceptions is the substance of the universe. The physical substance comprises of matter and light, and it is studied by the subject of Physics. We are very familiar with both matter and light because we live on a planet made of matter, and we get our light from the sun. Matter forms our bodies, and light allows us to see. Light fits in the broad category of electromagnetic radiation.
The most obvious substance is matter. The thickness of matter is called “mass.” There are solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter. These states depend on how concentrated the mass particles are in space. But space does not have mass. Therefore, mass does not depend on the concentration of particles in space.
To examine mass, one needs to examine the smallest particle of matter. Such a particle is called an atom.
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Substance within Atom
Since atom is the smallest particle, there are no particles within the atom. But the atom may be smashed to generate subatomic particles. There is Particle Physics that describes numerous subatomic particles. But all such particles are formed during atomic interactions. These subatomic particles do not exist intrinsically within the atom, just like a drop of water does not exist within a lake.
It is a misconception that subatomic particles exist within the atom. Such particles are generated only from atomic interactions.
There are no particles floating in space inside the atom, as was postulated in the original Bohr’s model of an atom. Within the atom there would be continuity of substance and no space.
It is a misconception that a large part of atom is empty space. The whole volume of the atom is filled with substance.
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Structure of Atom
Inside the atom the mass of substance varies, but the substance is continuous. Substance with highest mass is at the center of the atom. Substance with least mass is at the periphery of the atom. There is a gradient of decreasing mass from the center towards the periphery.
There a very thick but small field of matter at the center of atom. It is called nucleus. Mass (thickness of matter) decreases on a small gradient from the center of the atom to the boundary of the nucleus. We may refer to it as “solid mass.”
Surrounding the nucleus is a thin but large field of electron. There is a sharp decline in mass at the boundary of the nucleus, but the continuity of substance is maintained. We may call this decline a transition from “solid” to “liquid” mass. In the electronic field, the “liquid mass” continues to decrease on a small gradient toward the periphery of the atom.
The atom is enveloped in an extremely thin but extremely large field of radiation that fills the space among atoms. There is a sudden decline in mass at the periphery of the atom, but the continuity of substance is maintained. We may call this decline a transition from “liquid” to “gaseous” mass. In the radiation field, the “gaseous mass” continues to decrease on a small gradient away from atom in the interstitial space.
Therefore, from the center of atom to its periphery, we have a continuity of substance with a decreasing gradient of mass. As mass decreases, the volume of substance increases. It is like substance spreading out in space.
It is a misconception that substance is not continuous within the atom, in the interstitial space, and throughout the universe.
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Radiation and Mass
The field of radiation has extremely thin “gaseous mass.” It is so small that it cannot be measured and it is ignored. Thus, radiation is considered to have no mass. For example, light has no mass. However, experiments have shown that the light from the sun can push a large sail in interplanetary space.
It is a misconception that radiation has no mass. Radiation does have an extremely small amount of mass.
The thickness of radiation is so small that it cannot be measured as mass. So, it is measured in terms of “frequency” (m = 10-50 f). Einstein famously showed radiative energy to be equivalent to matter with the equation, E = mc2, and Planck constant relates this radiative energy to frequency (E = hf). Besides, radiation exists and it is substantial enough to be sensed. Thus, Postulate Mechanics declares radiation to also be a substance.
It is a misconception not to consider radiation as a substance. Besides matter, radiation is also a substance.
When matter thins out, it becomes radiation. When radiation thickens it becomes matter.
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“Empty” Space
We are used to considering “empty space” to be space empty of matter. But, such a space can still be filled with thinning radiation. Therefore, space can never be truly empty of substance. We notice that a volume is always filled with substance no matter how thin that substance is. Therefore, space is always defined by the extents of substance.
It is a misconception that space not filled with matter is completely empty. Space is always filled with substance of some thickness.
In fact, space may be defined as the spread of substance. The extents of substance define the boundary of space.
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Considerations
The major concepts introduced in Chapter 7 are MASS, PARTICLE, ATOM, FIELD, NUCLEUS, ELECTRON, RADIATION, and SPACE. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
- Particles are separated from each other by space.
- An atom is the smallest particle of matter.
- Intrinsically, atom contains no smaller particles.
- Atom contains substance of varying thickness.
- There is no empty space in atom
- Space contains extremely thin substance.
- There is no space that is completely empty.
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