Powers of Ten!

This week, we discussed in further detail the properties of the atom. We did a variety of worksheets such as "Building Atoms" and "Subatomic Heavyweights". It was really boring, but I did learn how to find the number of neutrons just by knowing the AMU. Also, I learned that the AMU (sum of the number neutrons and protons) of atoms aren't whole numbers because different ISOTOPES of the atoms exist. Isotopes mean that the atom has a different number of neutrons than the standard, which is usually the same number as protons. For example, Carbon - 12, Carbon - 13, and Carbon - 14 are different isotopes of the element carbon. :D

The powers of ten video was quite fascinating. It's amazing how 10x27 can take us farther than the milky way galaxy! I do wonder what's out there though. In the Simpsons parody of the powers of ten, there was an alien. It'd be pretty awesome if aliens really did exist. :o Also, it puzzles me how anything past 10x-21 (I don't remember the exact number, but it was around that) is beyond our understanding. We know the structures of atoms, but nothing further than that. Can there really be another world inside protons, neutrons, and electrons? Is our whole galaxy just part of Homer Simpson's hair? :O