About actually touching something and sound made by collision

[rudransh verma]

https://futurism.com/why-you-can-never-actually-touch-anything/amp
We know the friction happens because of the intermolecular forces between the atoms of the surfaces in contact. When we place something on other there are places where they get come in contact there are bonding formed and due to this friction happens. The +protons attracts the -electrons.
When the surfaces are very smooth and clean the atoms of the two surfaces make bonds and the two things become one known as cold welding.
We also know from recent studies we can’t actually touch anything because of the repulsion between the electrons of the two surfaces. That is also alright. We actually hover over the surface of our chair and bed. Electrons never come in direct contact.
These all things seem consistent. All relatable.
But how do the sound is produced when we hit something like a table with our hand?

 

[Drakkith]

But we also know from recent studies we can’t actually touch anything because of the repulsion between the electrons of the two surfaces.

That's arguable. One could easily define touch to be an interaction between two closely spaced objects via their repulsive electrical forces. Set up an appropriate and agreed upon set of conventions for spacing and force if you want to get a detailed definition.

But how do the sound is produced when we hit something like a table with our hand?

The atoms in your hand repel the atoms in the table so that when your hand slams down on them the repulsion accelerates them away slightly. This causes them to slightly move until their interatomic bonds stop them and then accelerate them back towards there original positions, setting up a wave in the table. This wave then moves air molecules near the surface such that they also form a wave, which is received by your ear or a microphone to be heard or recorded.

 

[TeethWhitener]

Please don’t rely on pop sci for learning anything. You’ll end up believing incredibly dumb things like “we can’t actually touch anything.” Let me ask you a question: what do you think “touching” actually is, if it’s not some sort of interaction between two objects? And if it is an interaction between two objects, does it make more sense to be attractive or repulsive? When you push your hand against a wall, does the wall push back, or does it pull you closer? The details of the interaction may be interesting to talk about, but saying “we can’t actually touch anything” is just lazy and false.

 

[rudransh verma]

One could easily define touch to be an interaction between two closely spaced objects via their repulsive electrical forces.

O yes! electrons are part of our body. That interaction of electrons of two surfaces can be defined as touch. And the interaction of electrons with nucleus creates friction.

Please don’t rely on pop sci for learning anything. You’ll end up believing incredibly dumb things like “we can’t actually touch anything.” Let me ask you a question: what do you think “touching” actually is, if it’s not some sort of interaction between two objects?

My brother told me that probably after reading it from some electronic media or print media. It got me into thinking. Finally I googled this website in OP and end up believing that we can't actually touch anything. By the way who writes on these websites. Are they not the people following the scientists and researchers?

The atoms in your hand repel the atoms in the table so that when your hand slams down on them the repulsion accelerates them away slightly.

Do you mean the accelerated electrons when come very close to the electrons of the table than usually there is a momentum transfer causing them to accelerate?

 

[TeethWhitener]

My brother told me that probably after reading it from some electronic media or print media. It got me into thinking. Finally I googled this website in OP and end up believing that we can't actually touch anything.

You didn’t answer my questions. I’m currently touching my phone, my feet are touching the floor, and my car’s tires are touching the driveway outside, but you assert that none of this is true, so I ask you: what do you mean by “touching?” What would it take for you to say two things are touching? We can’t go any further until you can answer this question directly.

 

[rudransh verma]

but you assert that none of this is true,

No. I have not asserted that. I got it right as @Drakkith and you have said.

 

[TeethWhitener]

No. I have not asserted that. I got it right as @Drakkith and you have said.

You’ve gone from believing that things can touch to not believing that things can touch (based on something your brother heard somewhere) to believing that things can touch (based on something a few people on a website said). At this point, the problem isn’t whether things touch or not. The problem is that you need to think deeper and not just go with what some random person asserts.

Why did your mind change so easily? What do you think touching actually is? What did you think it was before? What changed your mind?

 

[Vanadium 50]

My brother told me

Well that's an authoritative source!

 

[rudransh verma]

The problem is that you need to think deeper and not just go with what some random person asserts.

What should I do?

Why did your mind change so easily?

He has got good marks in 10+2 standard+he is aware of the current affairs. So I thought he must be saying something important.

What did you think it was before?

I never thought about it.

What changed your mind?

A good looking website, a person who knows things. What do you suggest? It’s kind of fickle mind.

 

[berkeman]

Thread closed temporarily for Moderation...

 

[berkeman]

A good looking website, a person who knows things. What do you suggest?

You should study science at school, and not try to learn it on your own at web discussion forums. Based on your learning style, we clearly will not be able to help you as much as in-person learning in school will.

Thread will remain closed.