Which Particle is Mediated in Electrostatic Force?

Most recent answer: 03/02/2018

Q:
Which particle is mediated in electrostatic force...
- Mmtz (age 26)
India
A:

Electromagnetism in general is mediated by photons.  This is a quantum phenomenon.  The quantum description of the electrostatic field produced by an electric charge is that a cloud of "virtual" photons surrounds it.  When another charge comes near, it interacts with these photons.

Note: this description is not very useful for macroscopic phenomena, but is the standard method for microscopic (e.g., atomic) interactions.

jjt


(published on 03/02/2018)