Initially, scientists described atoms as the smallest particles of matter. However, smaller particles within atoms were discovered. How did the scientific world respond to this new information

The correct answer will be - modifying the existed theory which could be proved with the repeated experiments.

Explanation:

The atomic theory was proposed by the John Dalton which stated that matter is composed of an indestructible and indivisible unit called the atom. The advancement and understanding of the theory led to the discovery of sub-atomic particles like electrons by J. J Thomson, protons by Rutherford and neutrons by James Chadwick.

The new discoveries added new information to the existed theory which led to the modification of the theory by the scientific community. This also shows that scientific paradigm can be modified with time.

Thus, modifying the existed theory which could be proved with the repeated experiments is the correct answer.

After the new discoveries were verified and confirmed, the new information was used to update or eliminate existing theories, formulate new hypotheses, test the new hypotheses with new experiments, develop new theories, make new predictions and test them with new experiments, and in general expand the understanding of whole fields of science such as structure of matter and particle Physics.