Atomic theory: void?

Question

Hi,

I have an assignment where I have to make a timeline of the development of the model of the atom.

My timeline begins with Leucippus and Democritus, but I don't understand what is meant by the 'void' and I can't find a good definition.

any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

Johnandeileen noted the 'void' between galaxies (ie, that space is made up mostly of empty volume).

In atomic theory, there is also an 'inner void', meaning that in the classical picture of an atom being made up of tiny electrons orbiting a nucleus of protons and neutrons, the average size of an atom was very much larger than the size of either the electrons, or even the protons and neutrons making up the nucleus.  An atom thereofore, was made up of electrons orbiting the nucleus at a great distance (relative to the size of the electron), with a great void existing between them (in relative terms, similar to the space between the orbiting planets in the solar system and the sun).  This was known as the 'inner void', and even the most solid material is actually composed almost entirely of empty space within an atom.

The modern theory is slightly different, in that an electron cloud surrounds the nucleus; but that electron cloud is spread out so thin, that on average, matter is still made up mostly of an empty void.

It is a curious coincidence of science that the smallest structure of matter is similar to the largest intergalactic structure of the universe.

Answer 2

In science, void is the term used to describe the vast regions of space between the walls of far distant galaxies, but even here there are random scatterings of particles. I have no idea how the term could be tied to the atom.

Answer 3

"void - adj. -

1. Law. having no legal force or effect; not legally binding or enforceable.

2. useless; ineffectual; vain.

3. devoid; destitute (usually fol. by of): a life void of meaning."

There are other meanings (see link below), but that should give you an accurate understanding of what void means.

I seem to remember that it was Democritus who was the first one to suggest that the world was made up of atoms, but he believed them to be incredibly small indivisible particles. Now this is the traditional meaning of atom (from their word of atomos), but the meaning evolved when it was discovered that the things thought to be atoms were in fact a collection of protons, electrons and neutrons. About the same time someone named Aristotle decided that the world was made up of 4 elements: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. This was the more popular belief, and was generally accepted as how it was for the next 2000 or so years.

Hoped I helped.

Answer 4

Void just means empty space.  The link below on atomism talks more about it.

If you are researching atomic theory, your timeline does not start with classical philosophers.  It started with John Dalton around 1800.  Attempts to model the internal structure of Dalton's atoms proliferated in the early 20th century (cubic, saturnian, plumpudding, bohr, schrodinger, dirac).

Leucippus and Democritus were atomist philosophers, which is something completely different.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomism

Dalton borrowed the word "atom" from them, which turned out to be an unfortunate choice since what he called atoms (and we still do to this day) aren't atoms at all in the classical sense.  But other than the name, atomic theory has nothing whatsoever to do with atomism.  Chemistry books usually throw in the name of Democritus somewhere just because they think it makes them sound erudite and like to think that the science traces its roots back thousands of years.  It doesn't.  Maybe the chemists are just trying to obscure the true roots of their science, which are in the semi-scientific work of the middle age alchemists who assembled a lot of the bits and pieces of knowledge that formed the puzzle that Dalton put together.