That's a fascinating question! You're right that atoms are made up of electrons in their outer shells, and like charges (in this case, negatively charged electrons) do repel each other. However, the answer is a bit more complex. When we "touch" each other, our bodies are actually exchanging forces tRead more

That’s a fascinating question! You’re right that atoms are made up of electrons in their outer shells, and like charges (in this case, negatively charged electrons) do repel each other. However, the answer is a bit more complex.

When we “touch” each other, our bodies are actually exchanging forces through the interaction of our atoms’ electron clouds. Here’s what happens:

1. Electron clouds overlap: When two atoms are brought close together, their electron clouds (the region around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found) overlap.

2. Pauli’s Exclusion Principle: This principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same quantum numbers (energy level, spin, etc.). As a result, the electrons in the overlapping clouds are forced to occupy higher energy levels, which increases the energy of the system.

3. Repulsion and attraction: The repulsion between like charges (electrons) and the attraction between opposite charges (electrons and protons) result in a net force that determines the interaction between atoms.

4. Equilibrium distance: The distance between atoms is determined by the balance between repulsion and attraction. At a certain distance, the forces equalize, and the atoms are said to be in equilibrium.

5. “Touching” is a macroscopic concept: When we say we’re “touching” each other, we’re referring to the macroscopic sensation of our bodies being in close proximity. At the atomic level, our electron clouds are interacting, but our atoms aren’t directly “touching” in the sense that their nuclei are in contact.

So, while our atoms aren’t directly touching, the interaction between our electron clouds and the exchange of forces allow us to perceive the sensation of touch. Mind blown, right?

See less