Does the wall get somewhat warped from me pushing it?

[Anonymous9001]

Although I do not remember the name of such question I am asking I am able to describe it in a sense. My Physics teacher had tried explaining and I was unable to conceive it, but maybe someone else can put it in laymen terms I suppose?

I walk against the ground applying 100 N (random amount) and the ground shifts from 0 N applied to 100 N upward from where I am standing, how exactly does it apply the upward force? What force is it that's acting on me that's 'holding' me up?
I hope I have explained this well, I am pretty tired from my Algebra 2 homework so I am unable to completely think clearly.

Another example of what I am asking/needing further help on: I push against a wall of 5 N, and the wall pushes me back of 5 N, where does this force come from and how does it push me back? Does the wall not get somewhat warped from me pushing it?

Something else that has me perplexed would be that my teacher said if you made something thin enough it would be see through no matter what the material was, so I had asked her if the wall had no paint and had been cut down to the thinnest possible but able to stand firm it would be like a glass window? She responded yes, maybe someone can help me perceive the complexities of science and such, but if it's a strenuous task to do so, please do not answer the question just say so and I'll figure it out somewhere else, I thank you all for your time.

 

[rcgldr]

Does the wall get somewhat warped from me pushing it?

Yes, it's similar to a very stiff spring, the wall or the ground compresses a small amount when there's a force involved.

 

[Anonymous9001]

Thank you for the quick response although not entirely explaining what I asked in the previous comment, I greatly (I seriously mean greatly) appreciate your answer.

 

[rcgldr]

Made something thin enough it would be see through.

If the coating on a mirror is made very thin, you get partial transparency, it's partially reflective and partially see through.

 

[Danger]

Welcome to PF, Anonymouse9001.
The basic answer as to what is holding you back is the mutual repulsion of electrons. Electrons are negatively charged and in "orbit", as opposed to the positive protons in the nucleus. Since like charges repel, two atoms approaching each other tend to not cohabitate. You would have to figure out some way to exceed the "electron degeneracy pressure" in order to make them merge.
As for the transparency issue, opacity or reflectivity (aspects of the same thing) is based upon the absorption and re-emission of photons from a particular atomic structure. The thinner the material, the fewer atoms there are between the source and the observer. Your teacher is correct, but it is something that is very hard to explain.

 

[Lsos]

Try to shine a light through a book. Most likely none of the light will go through it. If you shine it through just a few pages of the book, some light will get through. Even more will get through just one sheet.

It pretty much works that way with every material.

You can always go thinner, until you reach one atom of thickness. One atom thick is VERY thin. Considering that atoms are mostly empty space, it's not hard to see how light would get through.

 

[Anonymous9001]

Thank you all for your answers, I understand now.

 

[Danger]

I understand now.

Good. Now go shake hands with your teacher and tell him to get his butt onto this site where he can help a lot more kids than he can within the bounds of schoolroom walls.