The Britannica Guide to the Atom

A standard sheet of office paper measures 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches long. If one took that sheet of paper, tore it in half across its width, and threw away the other half, one would be left with a piece of paper 5.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches long. After six tears, the sheet of paper would be a little more than an inch on a side. After seven more tears, that small chit of paper would be about 0.1 inch on a side. It would be difficult to tear that minute piece of paper easily, but perhaps it could be done. However, one would eventually reach the limit of one’s manual dexterity and be left with a small speck of paper. Though one could imagine some much smaller creature like an ant continuing the process, there would have to be some point at which the paper could not be torn anymore.