Question 1

What are subatomic particles?

Accepted Answer

Subatomic particles are the tiny pieces that make up everything in the universe, including us. They are so small that we can't see them with our eyes or even with a regular microscope.

Question 2

What are some examples of subatomic particles?

Accepted Answer

Some examples of subatomic particles are protons, neutrons, and electrons. These tiny particles come together to form atoms, which build everything around us.

Question 3

What is an atom?

Accepted Answer

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that makes up everything we see. It's like a tiny building block made of subatomic particles.

Question 4

What do protons do?

Accepted Answer

Protons are subatomic particles with a positive charge. They sit in the center of an atom and help decide what kind of atom it will be, like whether it's a helium atom or an oxygen atom.

Question 5

Why are electrons important?

Accepted Answer

Electrons are important because they help atoms stick together to form all the things we see, like trees, houses, and even our bodies. They have a negative charge and move around the center of an atom.

Question 6

What are neutrons?

Accepted Answer

Neutrons are subatomic particles with no charge, which means they aren’t positive or negative. They hang out with protons in the center of an atom and add weight to it.

Question 7

How small are subatomic particles?

Accepted Answer

Subatomic particles are incredibly tiny, much smaller than a speck of dust. You would need powerful special tools, like electron microscopes or particle accelerators, to even catch a glimpse of them.

Question 8

What holds an atom together?

Accepted Answer

An atom is held together by forces between protons, neutrons, and electrons. Kind of like invisible sticky tape, these forces keep all the particles in place to form an atom.

Question 9

Do subatomic particles move?

Accepted Answer

Yes, subatomic particles can move! Electrons, for example, are always zooming around the center of an atom, a bit like how planets orbit around the sun.

Question 10

Can we make new particles?

Accepted Answer

Scientists can make new particles using particle accelerators, which are special machines that smash particles together at high speeds. These collisions can sometimes create new and rare particles.

Question 11

What is a particle accelerator?

Accepted Answer

A particle accelerator is a big machine that speeds up subatomic particles and crashes them into each other. Scientists use these machines to study tiny particles and learn more about how our universe works.

Question 12

Why do scientists study subatomic particles?

Accepted Answer

Scientists study subatomic particles to understand what everything is made of and how the universe works. By knowing about these tiny building blocks, we can learn more about the world and how it's put together.

Question 13

What is an electron microscope?

Accepted Answer

An electron microscope is a special type of microscope that uses electrons to look at things that are too small for regular microscopes to see. It's like a super powerful magnifying glass for tiny particles.

Question 14

How do particles get their names?

Accepted Answer

Particles often get their names from the scientists who discover them or features they have. Sometimes names might sound strange or silly, but they're usually chosen to help scientists communicate.

Question 15

Do subatomic particles have colors?

Accepted Answer

Subatomic particles don’t have colors like crayons do because they are too small for light, which gives things color, to bounce off them. So, they are invisible to the human eye.

Question 16

Are subatomic particles always inside atoms?

Accepted Answer

Most subatomic particles are inside atoms, but some can exist on their own for a short time. Scientists study these particles in special experiments to learn more about them.

Question 17

Can subatomic particles be destroyed?

Accepted Answer

Subatomic particles can change forms or combine with others, but they’re not destroyed in the sense of disappearing completely. Instead, they follow special rules that keep their energy constant, as energy can’t be created or destroyed.

Question 18

What is energy in terms of subatomic particles?

Accepted Answer

Energy in subatomic particles is like the invisible juice that lets them move and interact. It's what powers their activity and allows them to stick together or break apart.

Question 19

Can subatomic particles be divided further?

Accepted Answer

Scientists used to think atoms were the smallest unit, but now we know even subatomic particles can have smaller parts. Things like quarks are even tinier pieces that make up some subatomic particles like protons and neutrons.

Question 20

What did people think about atoms long ago?

Accepted Answer

Long ago, people thought atoms were the smallest things and couldn't be divided. But with new technology, we found out about the even smaller subatomic particles inside them!

The Mysteries of Subatomic Particles - 20 FAQs Explained Simply