The sense of touch can prove to be essential in day to day life. Whether it be kissing your loved one, or preparing a meal; without it, aspects of life, such as intimacy and danger cannot be experienced. On an atomic level, what exactly is happening to give us this sense of touch?

Click on the icon below to watch the video: You Can’t Touch Anything!

Conclusion of the Video

Since the nucleus is found in the middle of the atom, electrons surround it. The surrounding electrons effectively coat the outside layer of your finger and the object you are about to touch. Due to all electrons having the same charge; just like a magnet, they repel. When you go to touch an object, what you experience as your sense of touch is electrostatic repulsion. Why do things feel different? This can be due to many physical factors, such as surface roughness and density, as explained, in depth, in the video.

Resources used in the Video

Magnetic Repulsion video:

Magnetic Attraction video:

Virtual Photon demonstration:

If you have any questions, leave them below and until next time, take care.

~ Mystifact

Please note; no copyright infringement is intended. All images used have been labelled for re-use on Google Images. If any artist or designer has any issues with any of the content used in this article, please don’t hesitate to contact me to correct the issue.

Relevant articles:
The Theory of Everything: Introduction to String Theory
You Can Develop Unlimited Senses!
How Do Touchscreens Work?

Previous DTube videos:
DTube #1: What Is Light Made Of?
DTube #2: How Fast Are You Moving Through The Universe?
DTube #3: The Breakthrough in Physics brought by Gravitational Waves
DTube #4: How do Fireworks Work?

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