How do we know that most of an atom is empty space? And since that is so, why can’t we just walk through solid objects?

Question

How do we know that most of an atom is empty space? And since that is so, why can’t we just walk through solid objects?

In: 13

Answer 1

MAGNETS MY BOY! MAGNETS ARE THE KEY!

Jokes aside, it’s because of electromagnetism; Opposite magnets attract and same ones repel

In this case, say you sit on a chair; The electrons of your butt are repelling the electrons of the chair (electrons are negatively charged)

If you could somehow push hard enough to get past those electrons, that’s what a nuclear fusion reactor does: Butt + Chair = KaBOOM.