Exploring the Interaction of Fermions and Bosons

In summary, contact forces are the result of the electromagnetic interaction between atoms on the surfaces of two objects. This interaction can be understood as virtual photons being exchanged between electrons. The "back momentum" effect explains why someone with more muscle can punch harder, as they are able to put more force into their swing.
  • #1
robertroman10
32
0
Just wondering...

If the interactions between fermions are the emittance of a boson (from what I understand from the grand design book by stephen hawking) then when you punch someone, is it just high levels of bosons being emmited and clashing or are the actual boson particles colliding?
 
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  • #2


Contact forces are the result of the electromagnetic interaction. It's probably easiest and most appropriate to understand contact forces as arising from the electrostatic repulsion of the electrons in the atoms on the surfaces of the two objects in contact. From the viewpoint of QFT, these static fields can be understood as virtual photons being exchanged by the electrons.
 
  • #3


So its just photons being distributed?
 
  • #4


Not exactly. There is an obvious "back momentum" effect.
Else a result of impact could never happen.

Because of the electromagnetic interaction, the force "wave" propogates at the speed of sound in that material.
 
  • #5


So does this "back momentum" explain why someone with more muscle would punch harder, as they would be able to put more back momentum into their swing?
 
  • #6


robertroman10 said:
So does this "back momentum" explain why someone with more muscle would punch harder, as they would be able to put more back momentum into their swing?

More muscle allows (generally) more force to be put into a punch and quicker acceleration. The increase equals a harder punch.
 

Related to Exploring the Interaction of Fermions and Bosons

1. What is the difference between fermions and bosons?

Fermions and bosons are two types of particles in the standard model of particle physics. The main difference between them is their spin, which is a fundamental property that determines how particles behave. Fermions have half-integer spin (e.g. 1/2, 3/2) and follow the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two fermions can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. On the other hand, bosons have integer spin (e.g. 0, 1) and do not follow the exclusion principle, which means multiple bosons can occupy the same state at the same time.

2. How do fermions and bosons interact with each other?

Fermions and bosons can interact with each other through the fundamental forces of nature, such as the strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetic force, and gravity. These interactions are mediated by particles, such as gluons, photons, and gravitons, which are themselves either fermions or bosons. For example, gluons (which are bosons) mediate the strong force between quarks (which are fermions) to form protons and neutrons.

3. What is the significance of studying the interaction between fermions and bosons?

The interaction between fermions and bosons plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of matter at a subatomic level. This interaction is responsible for the formation of atoms, molecules, and all the structures we see in the universe. Studying it can also help us understand the fundamental forces that govern the behavior of particles and the nature of the universe.

4. Can fermions and bosons be converted into each other?

According to the theory of quantum mechanics, fermions and bosons are fundamentally different types of particles and cannot be converted into each other. However, some particles can exhibit properties of both fermions and bosons, known as anyons. These anyons are still being studied, and their existence is not yet fully confirmed.

5. How does the behavior of fermions and bosons differ in different physical systems?

The behavior of fermions and bosons can differ in different physical systems due to the varying strength of the fundamental forces and the presence of external factors such as temperature and pressure. For example, fermions in a superconducting state can exhibit bosonic behavior due to the pairing of electrons, while bosons in a Bose-Einstein condensate can exhibit fermionic behavior due to their attractive interactions. The study of these differences can provide insights into the nature of matter and its properties.

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