How did Walton and Cockcroft split the atom?
Our method involved using a specially constructed apparatus to accelerate protons to high energies. We then directed these high-velocity protons at a target, in our initial experiments, lithium atoms. The kinetic energy of the protons was sufficient to overcome the electrostatic repulsion from the nucleus and induce a nuclear transformation. When a proton struck a lithium nucleus, it caused the nucleus to break apart, releasing energy and alpha particles. This was a controlled experiment, where we meticulously measured the incoming particles and the resulting products. It was a methodical process, not a sudden revelation, but the culmination of careful design and observation.
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