Understanding Pressure in Liquids: The Role of Electromagnetic Forces

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Pressure in liquids and gases is primarily influenced by the electromagnetic forces at the microscopic level, particularly through interactions between atoms and molecules. While macroscopic electromagnetic fields are not present, the Van der Waals forces contribute significantly to repulsion and outward pressure when molecules are compressed. However, the discussion highlights that most atoms in a gas or liquid are neutral, suggesting that pressure can exist independently of electromagnetic forces, as evidenced by neutrinos, which exert pressure despite lacking electric charge. The conversation encourages further exploration into systems that exhibit zero pressure. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for grasping the fundamental nature of pressure in different states of matter.
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What causes the pressure in Liquids(or gases)? Is it deep down of electromagnetic nature? By that i don't mean that there are macroscopic electromagnetic fields from a liquid under pressure but at the microscopic level the pressure is caused by electromagnetic force between the atoms/molecules of the liquid and of the surrounding media.
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force" probably account for the majority of the repulsion (& thus outward pressure) when molecules are forced together.
 
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Your question is quite interesting.

One direction to proceed to understand what systems have zero pressure?

Another point to note - apropos Jack's comment - is that most atoms in a gas/liquid are neutral. So it can't really be electromagnetic in origin. If you have a gas of neutrinos - which don't have any electric charge at all - they will still have pressure.

Hope this spurs you on a bit.
 
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