How come atoms are round?

Question

I have always noticed that atoms are round? how come?

I mean, why not being squared, or ractangle shaped, why is it that they are round, and even quarcks are round...

Answer 1

Atoms aren't round. In fact, we can't accurately measure the atoms' shapes, given the Uncertainty Principle.

We draw them as round, because that's the most natural look. We can estimate a central point, but without accuracy, it could be anywhere within a radius of that central point. So for that reason, we depict them as round.  

Answer 2

A particle like an electron, proton or quark is really defined by its charge and the distance at which the charge will interact with another particle.  This results in a spherical 'field of force' used to define the particle.  The radius of an atom is defined by the maximum size of its electron cloud, which is negatively charged.

These 'particles' are really just forms of energy and don't really have a shape.  The notion of little spheres probably stems from the Kinetic theory of gases, which assumes gas molecules to be like little billiard balls, bouncing around in a container.  I guess it's just more convenient to simplify their shape...    

Answer 3

dont think of any particle as a shape. think if it as just an area. a blob if you will. its blurry, we dont know its shape, where it is, or how fast its going.

a sphere is the most natural shape, really its the only natural shape. a particle is just energy. if it were a cube, that energy would have to be directed in some way, which it is not. for an atom, it is spherical because of electromagnetism. if it were a cube, parts of the EM field of the particles would have to be stronger than others for some random reason.

Answer 4

They are not round, only the first electron orbitals are round.

Answer 5

they are just a theory of how its apperance is like. maybe because of the mass structure.

Answer 6

Attractive forces pull in on the things around it.  Imagine a point that is an attractive point, due to gravitational, electric, magnetic, or other forces like the strong force.  

Now draw lines in every direction pointing toward that point.  The shape you get, when all the lines are of the same magnitude is a sphere.

The sphere is one of the basic structures seen in the universe because it's such a simple structure.  Its outer edge is just the equilibrium point between the forces pulling in and other forces pulling in different directions.

Answer 7

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