The Smallest Object One Can Distinguish Using the Electron Microscope

question 1

Short Answer

The smallest object one can distinguish using the electron microscope is on the order of one nanometer (1 nm = 10-9 m).How many atoms of gold are contained in a cube whose edge is 1 nm long? The atomic mass of gold is 197 and its density is 19.3 g/cm3.

---

Definitions:

Columnar Joints

Vertically oriented, hexagonal columns of rock that form as a result of the cooling and contraction of volcanic or igneous rocks.

Internal Strain

The deformation within a material or body due to applied stress or pressure.

Displacement

The movement of a body or object from one position to another, often used in geology to describe the shift in position of rock layers along a fault.

Rotation

The act or process of an object turning around an axis, leading to day and night cycles on planets like Earth.