Re: [Phys-L] explanation (was: causation)

[Carl Mungan <mungan@usna.edu>]

I’m not clear what “atomic scale” means. Nuclei won’t stay together without nuclear forces. But perhaps that’s “subatomic scale”? So if you’re saying we’re beyond the scales of the weak + strong forces, but we’re at the atomic scale where gravity is neglible, then it seems to me the only fundamental force left is electric. So now I’m wondering whether the question is some trick of the language because you said “attraction and repulsion” rather than “the laws of E&M”. If you mean them as synonyms, then I guess I’ll go with true because they determine phases of matter, magnetic properties, chemical bonding, and all that. -Carl

> On Feb 15, 2019, at 4:28 PM, John Denker via Phys-l <phys-l@mail.phys-l.org> wrote:
>
> Quiz question:
>
> 1) ☐ True, or ☐ False:  Attraction and repulsion between electric charges at the atomic scale explain the structure, properties, and transformations of matter, as well as the contact forces between material objects.
>
> 2) Explain your answer.  How do you know?
>
> For my answer + discussion, see next message.
>
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Carl E. Mungan, Professor of Physics  410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
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