the development of the atomic theory essays

the development of the atomic theory essays The Greek concept of atomos: the atom Around 440 BC leucippus of Miletus originated the atom concept. He and his pupil, Democritus of abdera refined it for future use. Their atomic idea has five major points. All original writings of leucippus and Democritus are lost. The only sources we have for there atomistic ideas are inquotations from other writers. Democritus was known as the "laughing philosopher" because he enjoyed life so much. At this time Greek philosophy was about 150 years old, emerging in the sixth century bc, centered in the city of miletus on the ionian coast in Asia minor, which is now turkey. The work of leucippus and Democritus was further developed by epicures (341-270 BC) of Samos. He made ideas more generally known. Aristotle also quotes both of them in arguing against their ideas. Most of what we know about leucippus and Democritus was found in a poem entitled "de rerum natura" (on the nature of things) written by Lucretius (95-55 BC). This poem was lost for over a thousand years and was discovere d in 1417. These are the basic points of their theory. #1 - all matter is composed of atoms, which are bits of matter to small to be seen. These cannot be split any smaller. " The atomists hold that splitting stops when it reaches indivisible particles and goes on no more" Which means there is a limit to division of matter that we cannot go. Atoms are very hard so they cannot be divided. In Greek "a" means not and "tomos" means cut. So our word comes from atomos, meaning uncuttable. He reasoned that if matter could be infinitely divided, it could also completely disintegrate and cannot be put back together, however matter can regenerate. Even though matter can be destroyed by splitting, new things can be made by joining other matter together. This process is reversible. The idea of reversibility means there must be a limit to splitting. If it could be split forever, there is nothing to stop it from destroying ...