Why can't you walk through walls? The Pauli Exclusion Principle Explained

Video Description

Why can’t you walk through walls if atoms are mostly empty space? What makes matter solid and resistant to compression? In this video, we explore the quantum mechanical principles that explain these phenomena. In the first part of the video, we explore the types of wave-functions capable of describing two particles in a box, leading to a discussion of the fundamental distinction between fermions and bosons and the spin statistics theorem. This leads us to the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which explains why electrons cannot occupy the same quantum state. In the second part, we show how this principle gives rise to a quantum mechanical pressure that resists compression and explains the structure and rigidity of matter. Finally, we calculate how this pressure manifests in materials, providing insight into why solid objects maintain their shape and size. References: An Introduction to Quantum Physics - French and Taylor Introduction to Quantum Mechanics - A.C. Phillips An Introduction to Quantum Physics - D. Griffiths The Feynman Lectures - Volume 3 - Feynman, Leighton, Sands Multiparticle Wavefunctions and Symmetry - Michael Fowler, University of Virginia Degenerate Electron Gas - University of Texas - https://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teachin... Why Stuff is Hard - Jim Pivarski - https://cornellmath.wordpress.com/200... You can help support this channel via the Physics Explained Patreon account:   / physicsexplained   You can follow me on instagram:   / physics_explained_ig   You can follow me on X:   / physicsexplain1