Question

guiding question
what are atoms?

movie
watch the movie to learn more about atoms, the smallest unit of matter. as you watch,
record any observations that help you answer the guiding question.

1 your fingernail is about 100 million (100,000,000) atoms thick, from
top to bottom. based on that information, why can’t we see atoms
without a powerful microscope?

a atoms are too small to see
b atoms are too large to see
c atoms are constantly moving, making them difficult to see
d atoms are mostly made of empty space, so they’re invisible

Explanation:

The question is about why atoms can't be seen without a powerful microscope. The information given is that a fingernail is about 100 million atoms thick. Option A says atoms are too small to see, which matches the idea that a large number of atoms make up a small thickness of a fingernail, implying each atom is very small. Option B is incorrect as atoms are known to be small. Option C's movement isn't the main reason we can't see them without a microscope (the primary reason is size). Option D's empty space isn't the direct reason for being invisible without a microscope compared to their small size.

Answer:

A. Atoms are too small to see