Diving into the

Microcosm: Exploring
Atoms
Unveiling the Tiny Titans Shaping
Our Universe
What are atoms?
• Atoms are the smallest units of matter that
retain the properties of an element. They
are the building blocks of everything in the
universe.
• Imagine atoms as tiny spheres, but
remember they're much, much smaller than
anything we can see with our eyes.
 • Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher, proposed the
Democritus’s idea of atomism around 400 BCE. He believed that all
atomism matter consisted of tiny, indivisible particles called
atoms, which were constantly in motion and varied in
size and shape.
Dalton’s atomic theory

• In the early 19th century, John Dalton refined the concept of

atoms into a scientific theory. Dalton's atomic theory proposed
that:
• All matter is composed of indivisible atoms.
• Atoms of the same element are identical in size, mass, and
properties.
• Atoms of different elements can combine in fixed ratios to form
compounds.
J. J. Thomson’s Discovery of
Electrons

• In 1897, J.J. Thomson discovered the

electron through his experiments with
cathode rays. His findings led to the
development of the plum pudding model,
where electrons were embedded within a
positively charged sphere, akin to raisins in a
pudding.
Rutherford’s model and
experiment

• Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment in

1909 provided evidence for the existence of
the atomic nucleus. His observations of alpha
particle deflection led to the conclusion that
atoms have a small, dense nucleus
surrounded by mostly empty space.