Re: How do they split atoms?

They shoot small things--electrons, protons, neutrons, or
even other atoms--at high speed towards the atom.  Mostly
they miss, but when they get a hit, and if the "bullets" have
enough velocity, then they may succeed in smashing the target
atom.  Of couse, individual atoms are too small to aim at,
so they actually use a chunk of material with many many atoms
in it, and aim a beam with a large number of speedy electrons
(or whatever) at that target, and observe the debris to see
if anything intersting has occurred.