Ancient+Times+(450+AD+and+years+prior)+clarkeson.charrette

=Back= = = =Ancient Times: Up to 450 AD=

=First Notions of the Atom= = = = = = = =Democritus=

c. 460 B.C.E. - c. 370 B.C.E. Democritus was born in Abdera and studied under Leuccipus. This Greek philosopher Democritus developed the first known atomic theory. He suggested that all matter was made of small, indivisible objects known as //atomon//. He believed they were totally compressed and filled the space they occupied. He also suggested the properties of different materials were caused by differences in shape, size, and arrangements of atoms in molecules. Everything from an objects temperature, to its color, to whether it was a liquid or a gas, was determined by how the atoms were arranged according to his theory. Democritus' theory leads to the solid sphere model of the atom. This is an extremely simple model. It is just a solid sphere of mass that can not possibly be broken down into anything smaller. [] [] [] = = [] =Aristotle=



384-322 B.C.E. Aristotle studied under Plato, attending the Academy in Athens. After Plato died, he traveled to Assos to open a branch of the Academy focusing more on biology than mathematics. After returning to Athens, he opened Lyceum, a school of his own. Aristotle was another Greek philosopher. Aristotle disagreed with Democritus' idea of the atom. He believed one could divide matter an infinite amount of times; matter was not quantified in theory. He also devised the four elements; earth, fire, water, and air.

[|http://www.members.tripod.com/~Killashandra/Page2.html][] [|http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/34560/Aristotle] =Leucippus=



5th Century B.C.E.

Leucippus was Democritus' teacher and inspired the his atomic theory. Leucippus was the first to suggest all matter was made of indivisible pieces of matter. He also suggested they were always in motion and that their collisions formed compounds that built up to be larger objects. [|http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/337658/Leucippus]