weird effect with magnets

[jts]

Constant distance. Won't go closer. Won't go farther. Weird.

 

Question:  Does this principle (whatever the principle is) apply to atoms? Atoms have a positive charge in the center and a negative charge on the outside.

 

[Peter]

It's just a silly magic trick.

signed: Alphonse Demagio in Miss Traders third grade class.

[BaalChatzaf]

On 2/21/2018 at 2:41 PM, jts said:

Constant distance. Won't go closer. Won't go farther. Weird.

 

Question:  Does this principle (whatever the principle is) apply to atoms? Atoms have a positive charge in the center and a negative charge on the outside.

 

What you are seeing there is dipole dipole interaction.  At very close distance the dipoles repel and at greater distance the dipoles attract.  In between the forces balance each other.  Look up dipose interaction and Lennard-Jones potential.   there is nothing magical  or mysterious happening.  Dipole interactions can be complicated and play an important part in chemistry.  Their interactions are the basis of Van der Waals forces and and binding. 

 

See :  https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/images-of-van-der-waals-forces-prompt-controversy/2500140.article

and 

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Chemical_Bonding/Van_der_Waals_interaction#/media/File:Argon_dimer_potential.png