How does the Casimir effect make two metal plates attract each other?
Quick Answer
The Casimir effect comes from quantum fluctuations in empty space. When two plates are very close together, fewer virtual electromagnetic modes fit between them, creating a tiny attractive force.
The Full Story
At very small distances, quantum physics predicts that even a vacuum is not completely empty. The Casimir effect arises because the allowed electromagnetic fluctuations between two close conducting plates are different from those outside them. This creates a pressure difference that pushes the plates together. The effect was first predicted by Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir in 1948. It is extremely small in everyday life, but it becomes important in micro- and nanoscale devices.
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"How can empty space push things together?"
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