Book Title: Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science
Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
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Microcosmology : Atom if we had the best possible measuring devices, time and determination, it is not possible to know both the position and momentum of a subatomic particle (say, an electron) with absolute precision. Both can be known approximately, but the more accurately we know about one, the less accurately we know about the other. For instance, given a beam of electrons, quantum theory can predict the probable distribution of the electrons over a given space at a given time, but cannot predict the course of a solitary electron. The precise mathematical form of the relation between the uncertainties of position and momentum of a particle is known as Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. It has undermined the whole idea of a causal universe.
SUBATOMIC LEVEL : THE HEART OF THE ATOM
Let us now descend to the subatomic level for a more detailed study of the nucleus - the heart of every atom. It is not necessary to know more about the nucleus than its charge and its mass to understand the great variety of molecular structures. But to unravel the nature of matter, i.e. to comprehend what matter is ultimately made of, the study of nucleus is essential because it contains almost the entire mass of the atom. Whereas the structure of the outer body of the atom can be, to a certain extent, compared to a miniature solar system, the structure of the nucleus itself presents an entirely different picture. The main task of the post-quantum theory physicists was to study the structure, i.e. the constituents of the nucleus as well as the forces which bind them together as a stable entity.
First of all, it is clear that the nuclear forces which tightly bind the nucleus together cannot be of the familiar electromagnetic origin, since the protons are all positively charged, thus repelling each other.
It must, therefore, be an entirely new force of nature, not encountered anywhere outside the nucleus and must be many
1. The electromagnetic repulsion force in the nucleus varies inversely as the
squrare of the distance separating the positively charged particles! Prof. E. Soddy has figured out that two grams of protons placed at the opposite poles of the earth would repel each other with a force of twenty-six tons.
