What Does It Really Mean to Touch Something at Macro and Nano Scales?

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Touching objects at macro and nano scales raises complex questions about the nature of interaction. The discussion highlights confusion around the concept of touch, particularly regarding the repulsion of electrons and what it truly means to "touch" at a fundamental level. Participants express discomfort with simplistic explanations, suggesting that touch is ultimately about the interaction of forces rather than direct contact. The conversation indicates a need for clearer explanations on this topic, as it frequently arises in discussions. Understanding touch requires acknowledging the limitations of our perceptions and the underlying physics involved.
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im doing a project on this topic and its really weird and is it actually ture? can you actually touch anything?
 
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i know it all said:
im doing a project on this topic and its really weird and is it actually ture? can you actually touch anything?

We have had this question popping up over and over again. We may need to add this to our FAQ.



Zz.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ZapperZ said:
We have had this question popping up over and over again. We may need to add this to our FAQ.

Zz.

Yes, please do.
 
I always find that explanation wonky, just don't feel comfortable with statements like "The electrons on my behind repel the electrons on the chair". Anyone else feel the same.
 
HomogenousCow said:
I always find that explanation wonky, just don't feel comfortable with statements like "The electrons on my behind repel the electrons on the chair". Anyone else feel the same.

No, I'm not concerned about the electrons in your behind :smile:
 
Pretty sure you know what I mean. Oh okay, watched the rest of the video, the irksome feeling went away.
 
HomogenousCow said:
Pretty sure you know what I mean.

Yes, but I couldn't resist.
 
I heard there are a lot of vacancies for electrons, well the ones that work in the "behind" against chair region...

"""I always find that explanation wonky, just don't feel comfortable with statements like "The electrons on my behind repel the electrons on the chair".""""
i might bet that the electrons feel similarly.. :D
 
Sure, in an everyday macro setting you can say we "touch" things. But if you really want to get deep into it, what exactly is touch? Even if you could get electrons to "touch" each other, what exactly does that mean? For all we know an electron is a point particle...and what happens when you touch two point particles? Well, they'd be on top of each other. Or maybe it's a vibrating string...so then what, the strings touch?

Either way, we have to be satisfied with the idea that touch, whether on a macro or nano scale, is just interaction of forces.

This is just my layman's interpretation of it, please someone straighten me out if it's way off.
 

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