Re: [Phys-l] "filling" the space in an atom

["Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>]

I think the question is trying to address the misconception that air is filling the space between the electrons, protons and neutrons.  How would you word the question to identify whether students had this misconception?

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of Karim Diff
Sent: Wed 10/25/2006 5:35 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] "filling" the space in an atom
 
John Denker wrote:
> Also, if you pick any particular small region within the atom, and
> ask whether the electron is in that region, the answer is very,
> very likely to be no.  If there are N such regions, N-1 of them
> will be empty at any given time.
>   

Can the question "Is the electron in that region?" be answered with a 
definite "Yes" or "No" ? (unless I misunderstand what "very likely to be 
no" means here).
It seems to me the best we can do is to say what the probability of 
finding the electron in that region is.


Karim Diff


_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l