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Re: [Phys-l] Prising electrons from the atom



And what "kind of force" keeps the moon away from

the earth? Why should the answer be different for electrons?

Ludwik
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


On Dec 17, 2008, at 10:05 AM, sridhar chitta wrote:

I have two questions to the forum:



1) What kind of force keeps the electrons away from the nucleus.



Can this be called a "nuclear" force ? I have been teaching students
that there are four fundamental forces in nature and that all other forces
are derived from these. Yet, I found this force described in



http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/touch/touch.html



"The *nuclear forces* between these two types of objects is so strong
that no earthly conditions can cause the electrons to merge with the
nucleus, even though they are opposite in charge".

Which fundamental force should this "nuclear" force be ascribed to ?



2) Why cannot a hammer and chisel that can exert a force of say, 100
Newtons be used to prise an electron away from the nucleus of a copper atom
in a copper bar given that the radius of an atom is of the order of
10-10meters and the electric force of attraction between a proton and
an electron
that are this far apart is a *mere 2.3 x 10**-8 **Newtons** ?* (Electric and
Magnetic Interactions by Sherwood and Chabay)


--
Thanks
Sridhar Chitta
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Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
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Ludwik Kowalski, a retired physics teacher
5 Horizon Road, Apt. 2702, Fort Lee, NJ, 07024, USA
Also an amateur journalist at http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/