Answer to Question #314244 in Quantum Mechanics for BIGIRIMANA Elie

Question

Is it possible to see inside an atom?

Answer 1

Scientists can in fact seen inside an atom, just not with visible light. Visible light can only reveal things that are at least half a wavelength across, and atoms are more than a thousand times smaller than the smallest wavelength that is visible to the eye.

The way that scientists see inside atoms is bounce electrons and other small particles off of them and record the angles at which those particles bounce off and the directions in which they fly away. Using this information, they can deduce the internal structure of the atom.