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When the space inside an atom is described as "empty," what that refers to is mass. Most of the mass of the atom is concentrated in the tiny center, the nucleus. So most of the space inside the atom is devoid of mass. However, that does not mean there is nothing inside the atom.

The "empty space" inside an atom is not actually empty. It is filled with extremely strong electric fields produced by the positive nucleus and the negative electrons. These fields interact with the electromagnetic radiation that corresponds to visible light. This interaction makes it impossible for light to travel through most atoms without being absorbed or deflected. Therefore, you can't see through most substances.

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8y ago
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15y ago

Experiments by Thomas Rutherford demonstrated that alpha particles traveled through a gold filament with only slight deflection except for the rare particle that got deflect through extreme angles. The model that was devised to explain this was something mostly empty space with a dense center.

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14y ago

Atoms are mostly empty space because there is a lot of space between an atom's nucleus and its electrons. But the reason why we dont fall through is the same reason your finger cant go through a moving propeller without it being hit by it. The discovery of such a feature was made by Rutherford in his alpha particle experiment. As the majority of alpha particles shot at a thin layer of gold went through it, this suggested that atoms consist mostly of empty space.

Though this is not an answer to your question, I might suggest that the repulsive force between electrons may cause such an effect. The answer might be also in the quantum theory, as the theory's main presumption is the energy levels, i.e, that each electron jumps from one e-level to another, thus imposing a restricted movement on electrons and increasing the space area inside the atom.

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9y ago

The electrical resistance between subatomic particles is far reaching from the atomic nucleus and electron cloud. Electrons are also moving very fast. The probability cloud that determines where the electrons could be, the orbitals and the nucleus itself, are still not solid objects. Keep in mind under are current scientific understanding, no particles are "solid", they are an electromagnetic force.

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9y ago

The electromagnetic and strong nuclear forces are very powerful and repulsive at close ranges. Put two atomic nuclei near each other and they will push away from each other. Similarly if you put two negatively charged particles near each other they will also repel at very close distances.

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8y ago

Because we know that the nucleus of an atom is very very small but this is surrounded by a cloud of electrons. The distance between the nucleus and the electron cloud is HUGE meaning that an atom is 99.999999999999% empty space.

When this space is taken away (as happens when a star collapses into a neutron star), something that was much bigger than the Sun becomes a body barely larger than a city).

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15y ago

It's because of the electrostatic force between a nuclei and electron(s).

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Q: Why don't objects pass through one another since atoms are mostly empty space?
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Related questions

Why can't humans walk through objects if the atoms in your bodies are mostly empty space?

Because the outsides of all atoms are negatively charged so they repel when they come close.


Why is it impossible to slide solid objects through each other given that atoms are mostly empty space?

The electromagnetic field surrounding each atom repels all other atoms.


Transfer of thermal energy through atoms contacting other atoms?

Not likely. Atoms are mostly empty space.


Why can't I walk through solid objects?

There simply isn't enough space for your atoms to pass through the atoms of a solid object. You can swim in water and walk through a gas because the particles are so spread apart, but you cant walk through solid objects because the particle configuration is extremely dense.


Light energy passing through matter unaffected?

Light cannot pass though matter but matter is technically atoms, which are mostly space with a few, moving objects - electrons and the nucleus. For glass, the loss of light through the material occurs for all glass.


He atoms do attract one another weakly through?

Dispersion forces


Can all objects contain heat?

Heat is the vibration of the atoms or molecules that make up things. As all atoms can vibrate and all objects are made of atoms, all objects contain heat energy.


How metal atoms bond to one another?

They bond through extream temperture.


How is a force transmitted from one mass to another mass?

Given a collision, one object can transfer its force to another with simple contact.The muscles in my arm generate a force causing my arm to move. Let's say my hand hits a volleyball I just tossed in the air. The force in my arm is now transmitted to the ball (some of that force is lost to friction, but that's nearly negligible).If you want to know how exactly this is possible, just look at the atoms. The valence electrons on the surface of the objects repel each other, preventing the objects from phasing through one another. Basically, I pushed it's atoms with my atoms.


Why protons are not transferred during rubbing of two objects?

Adding or removing protons would change the atoms from one element to another.


Why is it impossible to go right through things?

Because of the electromagnetic force. The repulsion between the electrons of the atoms of the two objects will not allow them to pass through each other.


Is a chair made of atoms?

Yes, all objects are made of atoms of various elements.