Question

If atoms exist, why can’t we see them with visible light?

a) Atoms are too small to be resolved by visible light.

b) Visible light is absorbed by atoms, rendering them invisible.

c) Atoms emit radiation only in the ultraviolet spectrum.

d) Visible light has insufficient energy to interact with atoms.

Answer 1

Visible light cannot resolve atoms because they are too small. The low photon energy of visible light is insufficient to interact with atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atoms are too small to be resolved by visible light. Visible light has a relatively low photon energy compared to higher frequencies like UV, x-ray, and gamma rays. These higher frequency photons have sufficient energy to interact with and ionize atoms, which makes them absorb the higher frequencies of light. However, visible light can pass through many kilometers of a substance because it does not have enough energy to interact with atoms and be absorbed.