Question

Do we actually touch things?
Does Adam of an object that is the atom of another?

Answer 1

Things never touch because everything is made of atoms. Atoms contain electrons and electrons repel each other. This is basic physics. What we call touching is our brain interpreting the electromagnetic force between atoms created by electron repulsion. Thus, whether or not two things can or cannot touch depends on what we mean by touch. This is explained in detail below.

• All matter is made of atoms. Atoms contain electrons.
• Electrons are negatively charged and they push away from each other when they get close enough (electron repulsion).
• Our brains perceive the electromagnetic force created by electron repulsion as “touching” (it’s actually more like hovering at 10^-8 meters).
• If two particles actually touched it would create a nuclear reaction.
• The only things in the universe that can actually occupy the same space are bosons (like the photon).