The discussion revolves around the forces that prevent an object from penetrating the ground, specifically focusing on the roles of electrostatic forces and gravitational forces, as well as the implications of quantum mechanics in understanding these interactions.
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the contributions of electrostatic and gravitational forces, as well as the role of quantum mechanics. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on the primary factors involved.
The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of particles and forces, and the implications of quantum mechanics are not fully explored. There are also unresolved questions about the specific interactions at play in the scenario described.
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?