Philosophy Now Forum

I'm a newb at the philosophy of physics. I have a question about what exerts force:

If you have a light filter or a strainer or anything that lets matter with certain attributes through and prevents the rest from passing, is it exerting a force on the rejected matter? If so, what kind of force?

>>Perhaps a better way to ask the question is, 'Can force be passive, and does it affect matter?'


Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

mellowdoubt wrote:I'm a newb at the philosophy of physics. I have a question about what exerts force:

If you have a light filter or a strainer or anything that lets matter with certain attributes through and prevents the rest from passing, is it exerting a force on the rejected matter? If so, what kind of force?

>>Perhaps a better way to ask the question is, 'Can force be passive, and does it affect matter?'


Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

The force in play is the electromagnetic force. The electron orbitals of the atoms, molecules or ions the two materials consist of repel each other.