Divisibility

Divisibility, the ability of matter to be broken down into particles of practically vanishingly small size. The physical essence of divisibility is reduced to the discontinuous, atomic structure of matter. The doctrine of atoms establishes the limits of divisibility. In principle, it is possible, using powerful sources of energy, to break down any accumulation of matter into separate electrons and protons. Modern astrophysics allows one to assume that matter inside stars, at least partially, exists in such an ultimate divided state. Whether further divisibility of matter is possible, i.e., the destruction of protons and electrons into even smaller particles, is an open question. The practical feasibility of divisibility is determined by the forces that bind molecules into bodies, atoms into molecules, and electrons and protons into atoms. The smaller these forces, the more easily matter is separated.