2006-06-14 08:27:36 · 16 answers · asked by mikeg86401 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It depends on how close you bring the two fingers together. If they are close, no. If they are the nth degree closer than close, then they are touching.
2006-06-14 08:31:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sense of touch is generated by force related to the mutual replusion of electrons in adjacent surfaces.
Every electron in the universe repulses every other electron in the universe (subject to some limitations from relativity (horizon issues) and quantum mechanics (virtual particles and quantum effects)).
Therefore, in theory, everything is touching everything else, all the time.
But a more meaningful definition of touch would be when the normal force generated by the proximity of two forces is the same order of magnitude as other forces being applied to the two objects.
So, for example, you are "touching" the floor, because the force that the floor is applying to your feet is approximately equal to the other dominant force acting on your body -- gravity.
2006-06-14 15:56:32 · answer #2 · answered by pick_stocks_or_your_nose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically no. Approximately 99% of all matter is empty space, and either electrostatic repulsion or the Pauli Exclusion Principle (I'm not sure which) prevents the electrons in your fingers from getting anywhere near close enough to physically touch.
2006-06-14 16:10:59 · answer #3 · answered by David F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only if you can fell it. Simply bringing them together does no mean they have to touch so if you see and thing they are together then they are.
A boy and a girl are together (dating) but they are both on different halves of the earth. One on a work trip the other at home on Saturday. Does this suggest they need to be touching to be together? No they simply are together.
It is all relative.
2006-06-21 10:34:16 · answer #4 · answered by WDubsW 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This depends on your definition of "actual". As someone mentioned, your fingers are not PHYSICALLY touching because of the face that 99% of matter is space. However, if ACTUALLY touching means that you perceive that they are touching, then yes they are actually touching. On the other hand, if ACTUALLY touching means that they are touching in the theoretical physics sense of things, then no they are not.
2006-06-14 18:08:07 · answer #5 · answered by Jacqueline Sherry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is simply ~10^20 quantum potentials exchanging energy. to actually touch, you would need to accelerate your fingers to some significant fraction ot the speed of light. However, the integrity of the quantum electrodynamic structure of your digits would be severely compromised.
2006-06-14 16:00:48 · answer #6 · answered by Karman V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
touching is a word decribing 1 of the 6 human sences so if you fill any thing then they are touching
2006-06-14 15:31:25 · answer #7 · answered by lone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah, but if they are not touching and 99.9% of matter is space ... then what did you just stub your toe against, Weedwacker? Hmmmm?
In service to the vacuum continuum
2006-06-14 16:20:03 · answer #8 · answered by NeoArt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Nothing ever touches
2006-06-15 00:06:24 · answer #9 · answered by a5shole 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we don't know about our body perfectly.we feel like touching due to our neurones.we feel only up to which our neurones have a connecting limit.
2006-06-14 15:33:55 · answer #10 · answered by kuttan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋