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Single Idea 21205

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 2. Electrodynamics / c. Electrons ]

Full Idea

Although standard particles are assumed to be structureless, many physicists believe that if distances could be probed down to 10^-35 m structures would be discovered.

Gist of Idea

Many physicists believe particles have further structure, if only we could see it

Source

Brian R. Martin (Particle Physics [2011], 01)

Book Ref

Martin, Brian R.: 'Particle Physics' [One World 2011], p.18


A Reaction

Such probing is said to be probably impossible. And does the division then come to a halt? Aristotle's meditations on this are not irrelevant.

Related Ideas

Idea 13210 Wood is potentially divided through and through, so what is there in the wood besides the division? [Aristotle]

Idea 13211 If a body is endlessly divided, is it reduced to nothing - then reassembled from nothing? [Aristotle]

Idea 13220 Bodies are endlessly divisible [Aristotle]


The 14 ideas from 'Particle Physics'

A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time [Martin,BR]
The strong force has a considerably greater range than the weak force [Martin,BR]
Many physicists believe particles have further structure, if only we could see it [Martin,BR]
Uncertainty allows very brief violations of energy conservation - even shorter with higher energies [Martin,BR]
The standard model combines theories of strong interaction, and electromagnetic and weak interaction [Martin,BR]
An 'element' is what cannot be decomposed by chemistry [Martin,BR]
Eletrons don't literally 'spin', because they are point-like [Martin,BR]
The Exclusion Principle says no two fermions occupy the same state, with the same numbers [Martin,BR]
The properties of a particle are determined by its quantum numbers and its mass [Martin,BR]
Virtual particles surround any charged particle [Martin,BR]
Electron emit and reabsorb photons, which create and reabsorb virtual electrons and positrons [Martin,BR]
If an expected reaction does not occur, that implies a conservation law [Martin,BR]
The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles [Martin,BR]
String theory only has one free parameter (tension) - unlike the standard model with 19 [Martin,BR]