Would modeling collisions using Coulomb forces be useful?

[pantheid]

Hi, I am trying to decide on a topic for my senior project, and my professor and I fleetingly discussed my idea of writing a program that models collisions of macroscopic objects using the mutual repulsive forces of their valence electrons rather than standard conservation laws. My question is, is this a worthwhile pursuit? Would trying to analyze collisions in this way make it more complicated, or might this be more useful than using conservation laws in some scenarios?

 

[Vanadium 50]

What do you think you will learn from this?

How do you plan on modeling 10^23 electrons?

 

[pantheid]

I was intending to use a continuous distribution of charge over a weirdly shaped surface, rather than just individual charges.

 

[Simon Bridge]

You are thinking of modelling the valence electrons as some sort of restricted-motion fluid over the surface of the object with a fixed distribution of positive charge under it?

It would depend on the application ... there is no way to tell in advance if it will be useful.
I have a feeling it is the sort of thing people try every now and again.

 

[sardar]

I can say that modeling collisions using Coulomb forces can be a useful approach in certain scenarios. The mutual repulsive forces between valence electrons can play a significant role in the collision dynamics of macroscopic objects, and incorporating this into your program can provide valuable insights.

However, it is important to note that Coulomb forces are just one aspect of the overall collision process and cannot fully replace the use of conservation laws. Conservation laws are fundamental principles in physics and play a crucial role in understanding and predicting the behavior of physical systems.

That being said, your idea of incorporating Coulomb forces into your program can potentially enhance our understanding and analysis of collisions, especially in scenarios where the mutual repulsive forces between valence electrons are significant. It can also provide a more accurate representation of the collision process in certain cases.

Overall, I believe that your proposed project has the potential to be a valuable contribution to the field of collision dynamics. However, it is important to carefully consider the limitations and applicability of your approach in comparison to traditional conservation laws. I would suggest discussing this further with your professor and seeking guidance from experts in the field to ensure that your project is well-informed and scientifically sound. Best of luck with your senior project!