Question

Apply If atoms are primarily composed of empty space, explain why you cannot pass your hand through a solid object.

Short answer

Atoms consist of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons, with most of the atom being empty space. However, we cannot pass our hand through a solid object due to the electromagnetic force between charged particles, such as protons and electrons. In a solid object, the atoms are held together by electromagnetic forces, causing electrons in the atoms of our hand to repel the electrons in the atoms of the solid object when they come close, preventing the merging of atoms, despite the empty space within them. The electromagnetic force is many times stronger than the force of gravity, which is why solid objects do not pass through each other.

Step-by-step solution

Understand atomic structure

Atoms consist of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. The nucleus has a small volume compared to the entire atom, which means most of an atom is empty space between the nucleus and the electrons.

Explain the electromagnetic force

The electromagnetic force is the force between charged particles, such as protons and electrons within an atom. Protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. This force is responsible for holding electrons in their orbits around the nucleus, as well as causing repulsion or attraction between atoms.

The role of the electromagnetic force in solid objects

In a solid object, the atoms are held together by electromagnetic forces. When we try to pass our hand through a solid object, the electrons in the atoms of our hand come close to the electrons in the atoms of the solid object. Since both electrons carry negative charges, they repel each other due to the electromagnetic force. This repulsion prevents our hand from passing through the solid object, even though the majority of the atoms is composed of empty space.

Understand the strength of the electromagnetic force

Although the electromagnetic force acts only between charged particles, it is a very strong force. In fact, it is many times stronger than the force of gravity. This strength is what keeps solid objects from merging or passing through each other, despite the empty space within their atoms.

Key concepts

Electromagnetic Force

Imagine trying to bring the similar poles of two magnets together. You would feel resistance because they repel each other. This is similar to the electromagnetic force at play within atoms. This fundamental force arises from electrically charged particles. In an atom, the positively charged protons in the nucleus and the negatively charged electrons orbiting around are bound by this force.

It not only keeps the electrons in their paths but also dictates how atoms interact with each other. When your hand attempts to pass through a table, it is actually the electrons within the atoms of your hand repelling those in the table's atoms, which are also negatively charged. Despite the fact that these interactions happen on a microscopic scale, they have macroscopic consequences, such as the sensation of touch and the solidity of objects.

Atomic Nucleus

At the heart of every atom lies the atomic nucleus, an incredibly dense region consisting of protons and neutrons. It is like the sun in our solar system: small in volume compared to the orbits of the electrons circling around it, yet it holds nearly all the atom's mass.

Protons offer a positive charge, which plays a crucial role in an atom's identity, defining the element to which it belongs. The number of protons, known as the atomic number, distinguishes one element from another. Neutrons, having no charge, contribute to the mass of the nucleus and play a role in stabilizing it against the repulsive forces that naturally arise between positively charged protons.

Electron Orbits

Circling the nucleus, electrons travel in regions called orbits or shells. Although these orbits are not like the well-defined paths of planets around the sun, they represent the areas where electrons are most likely to be found.

Electrons carry a negative charge and their distribution around the nucleus determines how an atom will bond with other atoms. Their behavior can be described by the principles of quantum mechanics rather than classical physics, leading to the formation of distinct energy levels. These energy levels dictate the chemical properties of an element, including reactivity and how it combines with other atoms to form molecules.