If you imagine a particle that interacts with the Earth gravitationally but not otherwise (no electric charge for example), then that particle would pass right through the Earth.Ranku said:An object on the surface of the ground does not penetrate the ground. How much is this because of the electrostatic force between the particles constituting the ground and the object, and thereby maintaining their integrity? And, how much is it because of the materiality of the mass of the particles constituting the ground and the object and the gravitational force between them?
Just to clarify, given that the object is grounded and electrically neutral, is there any electrostatic interaction between the object and the ground?PeroK said:If you imagine a particle that interacts with the Earth gravitationally but not otherwise (no electric charge for example), then that particle would pass right through the Earth.
There may be such particles that constitute the dark matter that makes up the missing mass of the galaxies. These particles would not clump together like ordinary matter into stars and planets but would ghost straight through stars and planets.
There must be, otherwise the particle would fall through the centre of the Earth - and exhibit SHM.Ranku said:Just to clarify, given that the object is grounded and electrically neutral, is there any electrostatic interaction between the object and the ground?
Electromagnetic interactions are responsible for just about all of the bulk properties of any chunk of matter, including the object and the ground underneath it. These interactions are between the charged particles (electrons and atomic nuclei) that make up the matter and they are present even if the matter in bulk is electrically neutral (positive charges on nuclei balanced by equal number of negative charges from electrons).Ranku said:Just to clarify, given that the object is grounded and electrically neutral, is there any electrostatic interaction between the object and the ground?
Electrostatic forces are forces between electrically charged particles, while gravitational forces are forces between objects with mass. The strength of electrostatic forces depends on the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them, while the strength of gravitational forces depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them.
Electrostatic forces can cause particles to attract or repel each other, depending on the charges they possess. Gravitational forces always cause particles to attract each other, regardless of their masses. These forces play a crucial role in determining the motion and interactions of particles in the universe.
The two forces are both fundamental forces of nature, but they operate on different scales. Gravitational forces are much weaker than electrostatic forces, but they act over much larger distances. In some cases, the effects of both forces can be observed simultaneously, such as in the interactions between charged particles in a gravitational field.
Electrostatic forces are responsible for many everyday phenomena, such as static electricity, lightning, and the operation of electronic devices. Gravitational forces are responsible for keeping objects on the Earth's surface, the motion of planets and other celestial bodies, and the formation of galaxies. Both forces are essential for our understanding of the physical world.
Many scientists have attempted to unify the two forces into a single theory, but so far, no successful unification has been achieved. Some theories, such as string theory, attempt to explain the relationship between the two forces, but more research is needed to fully understand their connection and potentially unify them into a single theory.