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Sat 9 Oct, 2010 10:03 pm
When determining the mass of an individual atom, the mass of a group of atoms were divided by the total number. Why is this more precise than taking the mass of one atom individually?
If anyone has a clue please help me. Thanks.
@cookies12,
What is the margin of error on your scale? I suspect it is greater than the weight of a single atom.
@DrewDad,
You are probably right.
I do wonder about taking the mass and dividing by the total number of atoms. I mean, who counted them and how long did it take?
@cookies12,
the reason it is more accurate is because of quantum mechanics... the uncertainty of the subatomic world makes it very hard to be accurate, when it is multiple atoms it is a higher probability that the essential particles are there in there proper position