NO 2 OBJECTS WILL EVER really TOUCH?

[zapped]

NO 2 OBJECTS WILL EVER really TOUCH?

1. Homework Statement
When an object is placed on table, the particles in the object and the particles in the table never actually touch.


2. Homework Equations
In a short paragraph, explain how the field model can be used to explain why the particles never touch. Refer to the strengths of the fields, and describle how individual charged particles are influenced by and react to the fields.


3. The Attempt at a Solution
My answer is the electrons in the two objects will repel(due to strong electrostatic repulsion) each other, and it will take an infinite amount of energy for the electrons from the 2 objects to touch.
I don't know how to relate to strength of the field, please help, thanks!

 

[Delphi51]

Perhaps you could begin with one electron from each object. You know their charges so you can calculate their E fields or just use F = kQQ/r^2 to get their repulsion force on each other. How close would you have to push them in order to get them to "touch"? There must be some estimate of the effective size of an electron available. Once you have worked out the force needed to make one electron touch another, you'll have to scale it up to object size somehow. Can you calculate roughly the number of electrons on the bottom surface of an object such as a dollar coin?

 

[nlightner]

I can confirm that NO 2 objects will ever truly touch. This is due to the concept of electric fields, which are created by charged particles. These fields are incredibly strong, and they interact with each other, causing particles to either attract or repel each other.

In the case of two objects, the particles within each object have their own electric fields. When the objects are brought close together, the fields interact with each other, causing a repulsive force between the objects. This repulsive force prevents the objects from ever truly touching, as the particles within them are constantly pushing against each other.

Furthermore, individual charged particles within the objects are also influenced by and react to the electric fields. The electrons, which have a negative charge, are repelled by the electric fields of other electrons. This results in a repulsive force between the objects, making it impossible for them to touch.

In summary, the strong electric fields created by charged particles within objects prevent them from ever truly touching. This concept is important to understand in various areas of science, such as chemistry and physics, and it helps us to better understand the behavior of matter at a microscopic level.