Atomic physics


Atomic physics is divided into two realms: Nuclear physics and atomic electrons.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience Science Physics Structure of Matter

Atomic physics is divided into two realms: Nuclear physics and atomic electrons.

Atomic models

Atoms are too small to be visible to the unaided eye, and are often described using mathematical models. In one of the simpler models, the Bohr model, atoms are described as composed of a massive nucleus, composed of neutrons and protons, which have the smaller electrons in orbit around them.

Nuclear physics

The study of nuclear structure includes such things as radioactive decay, processes of radiation and absorption of radiation, and of nuclear structure in the nucleus of an atom. Atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons. The protons are positively charged, the neutrons have no charge.

Atomic Electrons

The study of atomic electrons includes such things as the processes of ionization, electron capture, radiation and absorption, and electronic structure and energy levels in the atom.


The personal studies, anthropology, culture, institutional connections, sociology, and history connected to atomic theory will be examined as this site develops.	Links to other sites: Not yet available
Biology, earth science, and astronomy are chiefly connected with applications of atomic physics. Chemistry including substances, changes, and chemical systems demonstrates applications of atomic physics. Atomic physics is connected somewhat to bulk matter molecular physics. Atomic physics depends heavily on subatomic physics. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and each atom has a unique combination of them. In a normal or electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. An atom with more electrons than protons is a negatively charged ion, and one with fewer electrons than protons is a positively charged ion. Quantum mechanics is essential to study of atomic physics. Relativity is useful for exact results. Electromagnetism is essential. Optics is important in the study of atomic theory. Magnetism is also important in atomic theory. Electric current including current definition, EMF, resistance, DC circuits, and AC circuits is also useful. Electrostatics and electric charge, charge distribution, electric force, field, flux, potential, capacitance, and electrical properties of matter is vital. Atomic physics depends on thermodynamics including statistical mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and nonclassical theromodynamics at some advanced levels. Gravitation and celestial mechanics is not useful at this scale except by analogy. Mechanics is essential for these studies. Particle mechanics including kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems may be minimally useful. For purposes of atomic theory, the concept of a particle has only limited usefulness. Rigid bodies including bodies and motion, rotational dynamics, static systems, and dynamic systems may also be useful. Nonrigid body mechanics including deformable bodies, fluiid mechanics, and especially acoustics may be useful.

The personal studies, anthropology, culture, institutional connections, sociology, and history connected to atomic theory will be examined as this site develops.

Links to other sites: Not yet available

Biology, earth science, and astronomy are chiefly connected with applications of atomic physics. Chemistry including substances, changes, and chemical systems demonstrates applications of atomic physics.

Atomic physics is connected somewhat to bulk matter molecular physics. Atomic physics depends heavily on subatomic physics. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and each atom has a unique combination of them. In a normal or electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. An atom with more electrons than protons is a negatively charged ion, and one with fewer electrons than protons is a positively charged ion. Quantum mechanics is essential to study of atomic physics. Relativity is useful for exact results.

Electromagnetism is essential. Optics is important in the study of atomic theory. Magnetism is also important in atomic theory. Electric current including current definition, EMF, resistance, DC circuits, and AC circuits is also useful. Electrostatics and electric charge, charge distribution, electric force, field, flux, potential, capacitance, and electrical properties of matter is vital.

Atomic physics depends on thermodynamics including statistical mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and nonclassical theromodynamics at some advanced levels.

Gravitation and celestial mechanics is not useful at this scale except by analogy.

Mechanics is essential for these studies. Particle mechanics including kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems may be minimally useful. For purposes of atomic theory, the concept of a particle has only limited usefulness. Rigid bodies including bodies and motion, rotational dynamics, static systems, and dynamic systems may also be useful. Nonrigid body mechanics including deformable bodies, fluiid mechanics, and especially acoustics may be useful.