Reply To: Attraction between particles, a question
Reflecting on your question, I believe the point of confusion, which I did not make clear, is this. The attraction between particles is commonly a magnetic attraction, an attraction between positive and negative charges. Visualize actual magnets. You readily experience that the attraction between magnets, or between a magnet and iron, rapidly decreases with distance. When magnets are a few inches or more apart, you don’t feel their mutual attraction at all; when they are only a hair’s breadth apart, you feel it strongly. Note that it is not the nature of the attractive force that is changing; it is simply that the nature of that force is such that the strength of attraction deceases rapidly with distance.
Coming back to the lesson and particles, the increased jiggling that occurs with increasing temperature pushes the particles further apart. Thus, you are right, the attraction between them becomes less. Hence, they begin to slip and slide about each other (liquify) or go off independently (become gas). But again, it is not because the nature of attraction has changed; it because the increased jiggling has pushed them further apart where there is less attraction.
Thank you for your question. I hope this clarifies it. Do ask again as you need.
