* Atoms are not the smallest particles. They are made up of even smaller particles called subatomic particles.

* The main subatomic particles are:

* Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

* Neutrons: Neutral (no charge) particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

* Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in a cloud.

Dividing an Atom:

* Nuclear Fission: This process involves splitting the nucleus of an atom, usually by bombarding it with neutrons. This releases a tremendous amount of energy, as seen in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs.

* Particle Accelerators: These powerful machines are used to smash atoms together at incredibly high speeds. This can break apart the nucleus and even the protons and neutrons themselves, revealing even smaller particles like quarks.

Beyond Atoms:

* Quarks: These are fundamental particles that make up protons and neutrons. There are six types of quarks, and they interact with each other through the strong force.

* Leptons: This family of particles includes electrons and other particles like muons and taus. They interact with each other through the weak force.

Key Point: While we can divide atoms into smaller parts, these smaller parts are not the "building blocks" of everything. There are many fundamental particles that make up the universe, and we are constantly learning more about them.