All objects of the world around consist of microcomponents, small bricks which form the Universe. Planets, stars, water, the earth, air, each person – all this visible result of invisible influence. But also it can be investigated and understood.
Micro, macro, mega – absolutely tiny sense is behind these prefixes sometimes huge, and sometimes. In this case micro means very small. So tiny that it is impossible to see a simple human eye.
Magic of a microcosm
Speaking strictly, the microcosm is molecules, atoms, atomic nuclei, all variety of elementary particles which cannot be seen just like that. Special thin methods and special devices are necessary for invasion into this kingdom. And as soon as they were developed, it turned out that everything is extremely difficult. Earlier in the theory of mechanics of a body were considered as continuous that was disproved after use of the latest methods of a research. Scientists saw molecules.
In turn they consist of smaller particles bricks – atoms. Surprisingly, but in a number of molecules the number of atoms can be very large. And atoms were extremely complex systems too. In them there are electrons and kernels consisting of different particles – protons and neutrons. The number of electrons is usually equal in atom to number of protons of a kernel. But there is an opportunity to electrons to pass from atom to atom, to be disconnected and join atom that is defined by such chemical term as valency. Happens and so that elementary particles behave strange. So a photon, being light unit, can show properties of both a wave, and a particle. Also there are particles which live only fractions of a second when through the atmosphere there pass space beams. Others actively let out energy in the form of radiation.
It is less than atom
While atom was considered as indivisible, scientists quietly studied properties of molecules and created new substances on their basis. However gradually scientific knowledge extended and it turned out that there is that there is less atom. Among the most known smallest particles it is possible to mention a pi meson, a muon, a neutrino, a gluon and other interesting things. Some of them are well studied. People learned to receive them in vitro. And there are also such particles which cannot be received so far. They contain in space beams. Researches on accelerators of elementary particles are of special interest for scientists. Here high-speed streams of elementary particles with big energy are created. At a high speed they face and form other so-called subparticles. Now them more than four hundred and opening are known proceed. So the microcosm gradually reveals the secrets before inquisitive mind of the person.