Why don't solid objects blend into each other?

Question

For example, What prevents my feet from sinking and blending into the ground? Or my 2 hands from blending and morphing into one when I clap them? Is it merely the density of objects? Space between atoms?

Answer 1

I'll give a go at an answer here. Of course the bonds within a solid work to maintain the physical structure of the solid. Also the electron clouds of the surface atoms extend away from the surface. In general, when you bring two solid objects next to one another, these electron clouds begin to overlap and will produce a repulsive force.

I had a physics teacher one time strike a hammer against a table top. He then turned to the class and said something along the lines of, "Electrons don't like to be forced next to one another, do they?"