Uncovering the Mysteries of Object Interaction

  • Thread starter Thread starter gerbilmore
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Objects interact due to fundamental principles of physics, which explain the mechanics of these interactions, such as a football being kicked. The discussion raises the philosophical question of whether objects possess a form of 'awareness' that facilitates these interactions. While experimental facts underpin our understanding of object interactions, the reasons behind these phenomena remain largely unexplained. The conversation suggests that all energy and matter may inherently possess an ability to interact, similar to gravity, which is accepted despite a lack of comprehensive understanding. Ultimately, the nature of object interaction combines both empirical evidence and unresolved philosophical inquiries.
gerbilmore
Messages
31
Reaction score
1
Hi,

This has been bugging me for a while now.

WHY do objects interact? Suppose I kick a football with my foot. Obviously physics can explain how the ball interacts with the foot and then flies off through the air, but something appears to be missing.

Do we take it for granted that one object can 'experience' another? It seems to me as though there is some kind of 'awareness' there for want of a better term.

An interaction can only occur between two or more separate things right? This separation surely requires one object to be somehow 'aware' of another object for an interaction to take place.

Can someone please offer some thoughts? Thanks :-)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
We take it for granted or as an experimental fact. You cannot do without experimental facts. There are theoretical treatments that carry out "bookkeeping" in interactions but any good theory is phenomenological: it is based on experimental facts. In particular, theories use measurable quantities in their bookkeeping.
 
Thanks. So would it be fair to suggest that all energy/matter – indeed every quanta of energy – possesses some kind of 'ability to interact' that is taken as fact in physics, albeit for unexplained reasons - in much the same way as we take gravity as fact, but don't really know why it exists?
 
Yes, that's right. Some "why" question can be answered, but not all.
 
Thanks. Now I understand! :-)
 

Thread 'Need help understanding particle physics and quantum physics'

So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
View full post »

Similar threads

B Unraveling the Mystery: Interactions and Properties of Quantum Objects
Replies
4
Views
1K
I What is the true nature of microscopic particles when not interacting?
Replies
4
Views
2K
What is the difference between locality and causality?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Does the Universe have a finite number of fundamentals to uncover?
Replies
9
Views
3K
I Statistical physics in 2D world: How to simulate gas and its interaction with objects? (game design)
Replies
6
Views
1K
B Trying to understand what "time" is (layperson)
Replies
21
Views
2K
I RQM - the metaphysics of it all....
Replies
21
Views
2K
I Ultra-high energy photon interactions with matter
Replies
8
Views
2K
B Questions about momentum and force as well as normal force/friction
Replies
35
Views
4K
If numbers are infinite in both directions, physical contact is impossible.
Replies
13
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top