Atom

Philippines
June 24, 2010 3:36am CST
I was reading a book,just now. It says, "Democritus called this small particles atom. A - tom which means un-separable" - this was around 460-370 BC. But now, we know that the "atom" is seperable into smaller particles such as the electrons and its nucleus and other smaller particles. So, can we still call an atom "atom"? Which literally means unseparable.
5 responses
topffer
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 Jun 10
Hello nimbles and welcome to myLot, Have we to call an atom a "tom" because it is separable now ? I prefer to keep this word for the cat on my laps . We have to keep common names and not to create a new one when it would be useless. Have a good day
nimbles
@nimbles (12)
• Philippines
25 Jun 10
do say that its (atom) name is irrelevant? by saying that it is useless to change its name, you are saying that its name doesn't matter anymore...
1 person likes this
topffer
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 Jun 10
I was trying to follow your reasoning, and I say exactly the contrary : we don't have to create a new name for an atom.
knicnax
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
24 Jun 10
well yes. Why change names? Think about it this way, if you were named baby by your parents, when turn 5 do you have to change your name to Kid or child? and so on... :) It's still an atom, by name. Atom is a proof of how science has matured overtime :) It's amazing how they find out about stuff like this
lilBro
@lilBro (67)
• Israel
24 Jun 10
But it isn't the atom that has changed over time, unlike the baby that has matured. The science evolved, so it would be like if the parents named their baby "Only Child" only to then have another baby. The child didn't change, but it's name is irrelevant. I think changing the name of "Atom" to something else would give it a new meaning, when we say atom we think of the thing, rather than the meaning. So it should stay.
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
25 Jun 10
Well nimbles, we can because we do not really mean it literally. just as we call an eggplant an eggplant when it is not even an egg and not shaped like an egg as well, call that the mystery of the English language...he he he...Good question Nimbles.
achilles2010
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
26 Jun 10
The concept of infinite divisibility is applicable to atoms
qianyun6
@qianyun6 (2067)
• China
24 Jun 10
You can simply understand an "atom" is a particle which could not be separated in 460-370BC, or could not be separated by Democritus. Actually, we still have a reason to call an atom "atom" now. Atoms are particles which can not be separated by chemical method. Many words are re-defined, insist on the definition obstinately has no benefits.