How do forces (like tension, compression, etc.) work on an atomic level? What is actually happening?

Question

How do forces (like tension, compression, etc.) work on an atomic level? What is actually happening?

In: Physics

Answer 1

The vast majority of them are electrostatic interactions between charged particles, typically the electrons (which are arranged in clouds around positive nuclei). Like particles repel, so electrons repel other electrons

When you grab something, you’re pushing electrons closer until that repulsion is too much. It goes like 1/r^2, so it grows rapidly at small distances