Comment on What would happen if every atom on earth was to simultaneously double in size?
xmunk@sh.itjust.works 5 months agoIt depends if the atoms also doubled in charge though - it’s very possible that doubling in volume alone wouldn’t have any perceptible impact.
Breadhax0r@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I think my body might notice if it’s volume of blood suddenly doubled.
Ephera@lemmy.ml 5 months ago
What they mean is that the size of an atom isn’t really defined. It’s got protons and neutrons in the middle, with electrons swirling around. Other atoms are kept at a distance, because the electrons repulse each other with their electric fields.
If you double the size of the protons, neutrons and electrons, that alone would not double the strength of the electric field, so other atoms would generally stay at the same distance as before…