• Question: how are atoms made

    Asked by Adam Johnson to Frank, Ian, Isabel, Jared, Zena on 13 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Isabel Pires

      Isabel Pires answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      An atom is made up of three types of particles: protons, electrons and neutrons. The protons (and sometimes neutrons) for the nucleus of the atom. The nucleus is surrounded by electrons, which are constantly moving, forming a type of cloud. Compared with the size of the electron cloud, the nucleus is actually very small.

    • Photo: Zena Hadjivasiliou

      Zena Hadjivasiliou answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      Just to add to what Isabel nicely said: the protons and neutrons inside the nucleus are being held together by what physicists call “strong force” or “nuclear force”. This kind of force is effective only when things are very very close to each other but it is incredibly strong (hence its name!) and it takes a lot of energy to overcome it.

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