Atomic whirl
Encyclopedia
The atomic whirl is the logo of the American Atheists
, and has come to be used as a symbol of atheism
in general.
The Atomic Whirl is based on the well known Rutherford Atom
, showing the orbital paths of electron
s around the central nucleus
. It is similar logos and symbols of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
and the International Atomic Energy Agency
who also based their designs on the Rutherford Model. The symbol is used by the American Atheists
organization to symbolize that "only through the use of scientific analysis and free, open inquiry can humankind reach out for a better life.".
The lower part of the central loop is left open or "broken" to represent the fact that atheists accept that while they rely on the scientific method
, they are in essence, searching for the answers, and in some cases, further questions. This central loop forms an "A" which represents the atheists. The symbol contains an upper case "A" that denotes the country that the organization represents, in this case, America
.
American Atheists has a copyright on the symbol.
allows on Government-furnished headstones and markers.
American Atheists
American Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
, and has come to be used as a symbol of atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
in general.
The Atomic Whirl is based on the well known Rutherford Atom
Rutherford model
The Rutherford model or planetary model is a model of the atom devised by Ernest Rutherford. Rutherford directed the famous Geiger-Marsden experiment in 1909, which suggested on Rutherford's 1911 analysis that the so-called "plum pudding model" of J. J. Thomson of the atom was incorrect...
, showing the orbital paths of electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
s around the central nucleus
Atomic nucleus
The nucleus is the very dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom. It was discovered in 1911, as a result of Ernest Rutherford's interpretation of the famous 1909 Rutherford experiment performed by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, under the direction of Rutherford. The...
. It is similar logos and symbols of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
and the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
who also based their designs on the Rutherford Model. The symbol is used by the American Atheists
American Atheists
American Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
organization to symbolize that "only through the use of scientific analysis and free, open inquiry can humankind reach out for a better life.".
The lower part of the central loop is left open or "broken" to represent the fact that atheists accept that while they rely on the scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
, they are in essence, searching for the answers, and in some cases, further questions. This central loop forms an "A" which represents the atheists. The symbol contains an upper case "A" that denotes the country that the organization represents, in this case, America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
American Atheists has a copyright on the symbol.
Approved emblem of belief (US)
This symbol is one of the permitted "Emblems of Belief" that the United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
allows on Government-furnished headstones and markers.