| 3.10 |
What are some of the characteristics of the smallest building
blocks of matter? |
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If we are unable to determine a clear
answer as to what the smallest building blocks of matter and the Universe are
made of using existing theories, then an alternative path of investigation may
be to look at the characteristics and behaviour of larger matter and possibly
discover by deduction what the smallest building blocks of matter might be. |
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ln other words, if
characteristics seem to hold (remain constant) at each and every other level of
matter, then common sense tells us that these constant characteristics must
also hold at the smallest level of matter. Let us begin with listing the
simplest, self evident characteristics of the smallest building blocks of
matter: |
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| 3.10.1
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Characteristic#1-The
smallest building blocks of physical matter exist |
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It may sound obvious, yet the first and
most important characteristic of the smallest building blocks of matter are
that they exist. By existence, we mean that they are made of something in
reality. |
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The importance of stating such an obvious
characteristic is not as silly as it sounds. By existence we mean something
that is real- something that if not in physical measurement, can at least be
said to have some kind of mathematical proof. If the fundamental building
blocks of matter did not exist, then we would not exist. |
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This characteristic of existence by
definition carries with it a series of implications (which are discussed in
more detail in Chapter 5- Unita- the smallest building
block of matter). Unfortunately, both the common sense
understanding that matter must ultimately be made up of something is overlooked
in favour of debate surrounding complex formulas and imagery. The following
characteristics themselves can all be said to derive from the assumption of
existence in reality. |
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| 3.10.2 |
Characteristic#2-The
smallest building blocks of physical matter exist in dimension |
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While scientists cannot agree or prove
exactly what the smallest building blocks of matter are ultimately made of,
they do agree that the smallest building blocks exist in dimension. In other
words, the smallest particles occupy at least some bit of space within the
dimension of the universe, otherwise they could not be said to exist. |
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This is not to be confused with Quantum
theories of motion that postulate certain restrictions on the very notion of
measurement of position and motion. We are simply saying that the smallest
building blocks have position in dimension, they do exist within the boundaries
of this universe, they are real. |
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| 3.10.3 |
Characteristic#3-The
smallest building blocks of matter possess tremendous energy |
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The tests and investigations into Atomic
Physics that we have already discussed, identified via Einstein's work the
incredible level of energy contained within an atom. Essentially it was
discovered that the amount of energy possessed by atoms in a chair, for
instance, is such that if the atoms in a chair were to collide, it would create
a sufficient explosion of energy to devastate the planet Earth. |
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It holds that if atoms contain tremendous "energy"
then smaller particles that atoms should also contain tremendous amounts of
energy and so on, right down to the smallest particles in the universe. |
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| 3.10.4 |
Characteristic#4-The
smallest particles of matter appear to generally avoid collisions |
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Given that the chairs in your office or home haven't
exploded lately, thus destroying the planet, it is safe to assume that the
smallest particles of matter appear to generally avoid collisions. |
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Science continues to try and develop an answer for this. At the moment, a level
of reasoning has emerged that some kind of "weak" force keeps matter from
touching, while "stronger" forces attract matter to create more complex
structures. |
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This push-pull model still does not explain the complex interactions at the
basic building block level of matter that causes matter to avoid collisions, or
how the forces interact between themselves. No matter how heavily areas of
science bury their models in complex formulas, the model for strong force and
weak force is not scalable- it doesn't hold true for all levels of complexity
when looking at matter (in other words, there is no unified field theory yet). |
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Science through Quantum mechanics however has been responsible for producing a
string of interesting new perspective's. One example is the "tunneling"
electron experiment, where an electron tunnels through an object to the other
side. |
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Another experiment shows electrons having the capability of being in two places
at the same time. Finally there are detailed Science papers that assert matter
in some experiments showed an "awareness" at "faster than light principles" and
that this awareness affects the results of the experiment. |
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| 3.10.5 |
Characteristic#5-The
desire of the smallest blocks of matter to combine and form more complex shapes |
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Small particles of matter show a desire to form more
complex structures. We know this to be self evident by virtue of our own
existence. The human body is made up of millions of smaller pieces of matter,
working and interacting to hold the form of a larger and more complex
structure. |
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While humanity has devised models and calculations on
how this process of building and interacts happens, such as the laws of
attraction, we still do not know why the basic forms of matter, the smallest
building blocks want to join and become more complex. |
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Some may argue that the word "desire" here
is wrongly denoting greater intelligence to a process of matter aggregating
into more complex shapes. In many circles, the theories of chaos evolution- a
kind of process of random but patterned evolution of matter is responsible for
the shapes that we now see (such as stars, planets, and life). |
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Whatever words are chosen however, under this
characteristic we are simply saying that matter does form more complex shapes
and does seem to follow the same path in different galaxies and different parts
of the universe as proven by our last hundred years of space exploration and
observation. |
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| 3.10.6 |
Characteristic#6-The
desire of the smallest particles of matter to form specialized shapes with
specialized functions |
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We now understand that complex shapes such as humans
are made up of millions of atoms, made up of even smaller parts of matter
spinning around. Yet we still do not know why matter at this basic level
specializes. |
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| 3.10.7 |
Characteristic#7-The
desire of the smallest specialized shapes of matter to maintain basic form
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We understand that matter forms increasingly complex
shapes. Yet we do not know why matter at its smallest level maintains
specialized shape. For instance, why don't the tiniest building blocks of
matter, build giant electrons? Why don't the tiniest building blocks change
from electrons to photons and other small packets of matter? |
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