Particle: meaning, definitions and examples
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particle
[ˈpɑːrtɪkl ]
Definitions
physics
A particle is a tiny piece of matter, such as an atom or a molecule.
Synonyms
atom, molecule, subatomic particle.
Examples of usage
- Scientists are studying the behavior of particles at the subatomic level.
- The collision of particles in the accelerator created new elements.
- Particles interact with each other through fundamental forces.
- The concept of wave-particle duality is central to quantum mechanics.
- Particle physics explores the smallest building blocks of the universe.
grammar
A particle is a small word that does not change its form and has a grammatical function.
Synonyms
function word, grammatical particle.
Examples of usage
- In English, particles like 'up' and 'down' can change the meaning of a verb.
- Japanese uses particles like 'は' and 'が' to indicate the subject and object of a sentence.
- Particles in German can help show the relationship between words in a sentence.
meteorology
A particle can refer to a small piece of matter or substance suspended in the air.
Synonyms
aerosol, dust, particulate matter.
Examples of usage
- Cloud seeding involves releasing particles into the atmosphere to induce precipitation.
- Air pollution can be caused by particles from vehicle emissions and industrial processes.
- The air quality index measures the concentration of particles in the air.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word 'particle' comes from the Latin 'particula,' meaning 'a small part' or 'fragment.'
- It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe tiny parts of a substance.
Science
- In physics, particles can refer to subatomic objects like electrons, protons, and neutrons, which are the building blocks of atoms.
- The discovery of the Higgs boson particle in 2012 helped scientists understand why other particles have mass.
- Quantum mechanics studies particles and their behaviors, revealing that they can exist in multiple states at once.
Pop Culture
- In the 1998 animated film 'The Iron Giant,' the title character is described as a 'giant metal particle' capable of great friendship.
- The 2019 Marvel movie 'Avengers: Endgame' explores concepts of particle physics through time travel and quantum mechanics.
Philosophy
- The idea of particles challenges the understanding of materialism, raising questions about the nature of reality and existence.
- Philosophers have debated whether reality is made of indivisible particles or if they can be broken down further into even smaller components.
History of Science
- Democritus, a Greek philosopher, first proposed that matter is composed of indivisible particles called 'atomos' around 400 BCE.
- The development of atomic theory in the 19th century further advanced the understanding of elements as collections of particles.
Translations
Translations of the word "particle" in other languages:
🇵🇹 partícula
🇮🇳 कण
🇩🇪 Teilchen
🇮🇩 partikel
🇺🇦 частинка
🇵🇱 cząstka
🇯🇵 粒子 (りゅうし)
🇫🇷 particule
🇪🇸 partícula
🇹🇷 parçacık
🇰🇷 입자
🇸🇦 جُسَيْم
🇨🇿 částice
🇸🇰 častica
🇨🇳 粒子 (lìzǐ)
🇸🇮 delček
🇮🇸 agn
🇰🇿 бөлшек
🇬🇪 ნაწილაკი
🇦🇿 hissəcik
🇲🇽 partícula