Electrostatic repulsion at a distance

In summary, according to the concept of virtual particles in quantum field theory, the electrostatic force between two electrons can occur at any distance, but it weakens as the distance increases. This means that in principle, every electron can interact with every other charged particle in the universe, but the effects of these interactions are usually negligible due to cancellation and weakening with distance. Therefore, it is unlikely that an electron in an atom would simultaneously interact with an electron in another atom and an electron in another galaxy.
  • #1
Philipsmett
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What does it mean ?
"the virtual photon's plane wave is seemingly created everywhere in space at once, and destroyed all at once. Therefore, the interaction can happen no matter how far the interacting particles are from each other."
As far as I know, the electrostatic force between two electrons in QFT occurs only at a short distance.
 
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  • #2
Philipsmett said:
What does it mean ?

Where are you getting this quote from? Please give a specific reference.
 
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  • #4
Philipsmett said:
As far as I know, the electrostatic force between two electrons in QFT occurs only at a short distance.

No, electrostatic force can occur at any distance. It just gets weaker as the distance increases, as the inverse square of the distance.
 
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  • #5
PeterDonis said:
No, electrostatic force can occur at any distance. It just gets weaker as the distance increases, as the inverse square of the distance.
Is it possible that an electron in an atom interacts with an electron in a second atom and simultaneously interacts with an electron in another galaxy?
 
  • #6
Philipsmett said:
Is it possible that an electron in an atom interacts with an electron in a second atom and simultaneously interacts with an electron in another galaxy?

In principle, every electron could be interacting with every other charged particle in the universe. But since the interaction weakens with distance, and since there are lots of charged particles many of whose interactions cancel out, the effects of charged particles in the vast majority of the universe on anyone particular charged particle are negligible by many, many orders of magnitude.
 
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  • #7
Philipsmett said:
Is it possible that an electron in an atom interacts with an electron in a second atom and simultaneously interacts with an electron in another galaxy?

Do you see the effect of the gravity from Alpha Centauri in your everyday existence?

Zz.
 
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1. What is electrostatic repulsion at a distance?

Electrostatic repulsion at a distance is a phenomenon in which two charged particles or objects exert a force on each other without making physical contact. This force is caused by the repulsive force between two like charges or the attractive force between two opposite charges.

2. How does electrostatic repulsion at a distance work?

Electrostatic repulsion at a distance is based on Coulomb's law, which states that the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that the closer two charged particles are, the stronger the force of repulsion will be.

3. What factors affect electrostatic repulsion at a distance?

The strength of electrostatic repulsion at a distance is affected by the magnitude of the charges on the particles, the distance between them, and the medium in which the particles are located. The presence of other charged particles in the vicinity can also affect the strength of the repulsive force.

4. How is electrostatic repulsion at a distance used in everyday life?

Electrostatic repulsion at a distance has many practical applications, such as in electrostatic precipitators used to remove pollutants from air, inkjet printers, and spray painting. It is also the basis for the functioning of Van de Graaff generators, which are used to generate high voltages for various experiments and demonstrations.

5. Can electrostatic repulsion at a distance be harmful?

In most cases, electrostatic repulsion at a distance is not harmful as the force between two charged particles is relatively weak. However, in certain situations, such as lightning strikes or high-voltage shocks, electrostatic repulsion at a distance can be dangerous and even fatal. It is important to handle charged objects with caution and take necessary safety precautions when dealing with high voltages.

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