Our class has recently been learning about orbitals. What we've been told is the electrons are able to exist near each other in such a small space because they have opposite spins. These opposite spins create a magnetic attraction between the two electrons which for some reason allows them exist in the same area while still repelling each other.
My question is: why doesn't the nucleus repel itself? Surely the protons should repel each other because they are all positively charged. The electrons repel each other, so why shouldn't the protons? Is it a double standard? I don't know. But will find out!
