Matter is infinitely small

[Specforces]

First of all I want to say I am in no way claiming this theory to be an original concoction of my own, but the rather I wish to further explain and simplify what Zeno said about 2500 years ago,

Another mind stimulating thread for FFRers,

Mathematically matter can be infinitely small. This idea is quite simple. It is my theory that matter is infinitely divided. Furthermore, if matter cannot be divided infinitesimally then it cannot, and does not, exist. I will explain this by using a line segment as an example. Say we have a line segment and we divide the line segment in half. We then get two line segments that are half as long as the whole. Then we divide one of the halves again. Then we divide one of the quarters again. We can keep on dividing infinitely never reaching zero. The reason we can keep on dividing is because a line segment is made out of an infinite amount of divisible line segments. Now apply the same principle to matter. In the same sense that a line segment has to be made out of an infinite amount of line segments, matter has to be made out of an infinite amount of matter. Logically matter cannot be made out of nothing. For example, Quarks and leptons are the smallest particles that we know of. To this day they are known as the fundamental particles of matter. The most accepted theory, within quantum physics, that explains what quarks are made out of is the super string theory. Regardless if the theory is right or wrong one must still ask, what are the strings made out of? Quarks will most likely be proven to be made out of even smaller units of matter. Then the even smaller particles will eventually be proven to consist of even smaller particles, continuing infinitely. Matter has to be made out of something. Matter cannot be made out of nothing. Accordingly, I come to the conclusion that matter is infinitely small.

Specforces

[lightdarkness]

How can matter be infinitly small, or else you couldnt get to the end.

I know you bassicly said that, but i agree, I think there has to be an end, A VERY VERY VERY X10000000 small something that is so small, its the smallest small ever, and maybe thats what everything is made up of. I dont think matter is infinitly small, i think you can find an end.

[Omeganitros]

In the same sense that a line segment has to be made out of an infinite amount of line segments, matter has to be made out of an infinite amount of matter.

You got me there, man.

[COBOL]

yes matter is infinitley small or in other words a real world example of an irrational number.

and does anyone know anything about atoms(quarks) tunneling

[emccky]

yes matter is infinitely small, everytime you divide something it just gets smaller and smaller and it never just disappears. say for instance, dividing a number like 4. divided in half its 2, then 1, then 1/2, so on and so on. it gets into fractions then you simply multiply the denominator over and over again, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 so on so on. simply put, whatever matter you are dividing will never go away. just get smaller and smaller.

[COBOL]

exactly like radioactive half-life

[perfect_fat]

3.1415.................

[Jello]

strings are made of energy

[alainbryden]

you can't just present one side of the paradox. If matter was infinitely small then it would never create anything large - like even a molule. if you have a million things that are infinitely small and you put them together, they still make something that is infinitely small, by definition of infinity. There is therefore, no answer, exactly like the paradox of the existance of "nothing".

[perfect_fat]

Good point, never thought of it like that.
But, you forgot about the distance between molecules etc. All molecules are not touching, atoms are not touching, they're spread apart. That space in between the smaller parts contributes to the form. Nothing is solid, even though it appears that way to us. So, if as things get infinitely smaller, the space in between the quarks, atoms, etc. is relative to the size of the next largest part, it is possible. (I dont know if that made sense, but i think you know what im gettin at.)
Makes me think of reverse osmosis experiments in science class.

[mike100]

Spec is not right. You can keep dividing things forever, but only theoretically. In reality there is a limit. If i fire a bullet at Spec's forehead, it will have to travel half the distance before it can get to your head, then half the distance of whats left, and half of that and half of that and so on, so theoretically it will NEVER reach your head. It will have to half of the remaining distance, which can't possibly take 0 seconds to cover.

-Mike100

[mike100]

Wait...what side am I arguing for? Well in real life the bullet will hit you. Theoretically it won't. I was just explaining his theory of infinate smallness using a different example, which doesn't work in real life. The bullet WILL hit you, so there IS a limit to how small things can get.

-Mike100

[Specforces]

The world we live in is probabilistic, not linear. It can be modeled as linear at the level we typically observe it due to the central limit theorem. As you look at it closer and closer, it begins to reveal its true nature. You reach a point where space, time, and matter decohere, and it no longer even makes sense to think about proceding to a lower level.

The universe is under no obligation to conform to any particular mathemetical models. It is up to us to find models that fit, not the other way around.

Specforces

[Jam930]

The modern buddha.

[Monoc]

In mathmatics, it's true that the limit of something as it aproaches zero is equal to zero. Also, in theory, you can devide a line to an infinitely small amount, but it is all only in theory. No matter how small you can make something by halving it, you can restore it to it's previous value by doubling it the same number of times. Every system has it's tiniest piece. Your monitor has pixels, compounds have atoms, which have quarks, and it could definitely have more pieces to be broken down to. But it still has to have something left to make your original object again. Quarks have a very small mass, but it is still defineable and thus, several quarks can make a proton. A proton has mass, thus several protons can make a...
The ideas of limits in math is all theory, but in practice, no matter how much you devide something, it must still be able to be put together to make your original again.

But, you forgot about the distance between molecules etc. All molecules are not touching, atoms are not touching, they're spread apart. That space in between the smaller parts contributes to the form. Nothing is solid, even though it appears that way to us. So, if as things get infinitely smaller, the space in between the quarks, atoms, etc. is relative to the size of the next largest part, it is possible. (I dont know if that made sense, but i think you know what im gettin at.)

If pieces are infinitely small, than there would be infinitely times more space between the particals than the size of the particals. Thus, there would be an infinitely small chance that two pieces from different systems would colide. This would mean, you could never hit anything, touch anything, hold anything, or even sit/stand on anything. We would all seep into the core of the earth by the force of gravity because of no contact between you and your floor.