MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: Does mass have volume?

Date: Mon Aug 9 10:34:44 1999
Posted By: Larry Lurio, Staff, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, IMM-CAT
Area of science: Physics
ID: 933570529.Ph
Message:


Dear Tod,

Experiments have been done at high energy particle accelerators which shot
fast electrons into protons.  If particles took up volume, then when they
got close enough they should interact differently.  No such effect was
found.   Particles act like points not extended objects, they seem to take
up no volume at all. The reason why things appear to take up space is that
long range forces keep them away from each other.  For example the reason
why two atoms can typically get no closer than an angstrom is that
the electrons repell each other through their electric charge. 


Larry

P.S.  If you want to learn more about particle physics there is an
excellent book by Steven Weinberg entitled "The First Three Minutes".  


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