Infinity in a nutshell.
First let's try and see what infinity means. Some new-age scientists tell us that the universe is finite - limited in size, instead of being infinite (limitless) as we had thought for many years. Before they can state that for definite though, let them demonstrate finite in the sense of reduction in size, by simple division. Take a solid ball of rubber or glass or any substance you like and cut it in half. Two sections of equal size being the result. This can be done again and again until we get down to the size of a single molecule of the substance. The molecule itself can now be divided in two and this in turn can be divided even further until we get down to a single atom.
At the turn of the century a dictionary might well have stated that an
atom was the smallest of all partiicles and which could not be divided. We now know better than that after
atomic tests at Bikini Attol, and the later use of the atom bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the atom was demonstarbly divided, or split.
Every atom is made up of identifiable component parts. There is the
nucleus containing a neutrons and protons plus a
number of
electrons flying in orbit around it, much like the solar system where the planets revolve around the sun. Every element whether it is water, salt, one of the metals, calcium, nitrate or even a gas has it's weight and identity determined by the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus. Heavy substances have more electrons, lighter ones have fewer electrons. Hydrogen, the lightest of them all has just one electron. The same will be seen when
particles taken recently from the comet which originated hundreds of billions of light years away are analysed, demonstrating uniformity in the Universe.
We know that under extreme pressure, a hydrogen atom can be made to yeild it's electron (hence the hydrogen bomb) and we also know that a proton and a neutron - which are the component parts of an atom's nucleus - can be separated, but even these (sub-atomic) particles have
structures of their own. Protons and Neutrons are now known to be made up of Quarks which are held in position by smaller particles known as Gluons. These structures can be futher divided into smaller structures and so on. This division can be carried out an endless number of times, because the figure of "zero" mass or "zero" energy can never be reached by simple division. This also holds as true in the physical world as it does in mathematics.
We can therefore divide and subdivide until the cows come home, because there will always be something there no matter how small and that something can be cut in half. There is no way to wriggle out of this or get round it, it is a fact that infinity can be demonstrated in the molecular, the atomic and the sub-atomic world. We do not need space travel or high-powered telescopes for that.
Vic Dale
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