Repel

Repel is a term that generally refers to the act of driving back or warding off. It is used in various contexts, including biology, chemistry, physics, and military science.

Biology

In biology, repel often describes the behavior of organisms or cells that avoid each other. For example, certain plants release chemicals to repel herbivores or competing plants. This phenomenon is known as allelopathy. Additionally, some animals have evolved mechanisms to repel predators, such as the release of noxious substances or the display of warning colors.

Chemistry

In chemistry, repel refers to the force that causes like-charged particles to push away from each other. This is a fundamental concept in electrostatics, where positively charged particles repel other positively charged particles, and negatively charged particles repel other negatively charged particles. This principle is crucial in understanding the behavior of atoms and molecules.

Physics

In physics, the concept of repulsion is essential in the study of magnetism and electricity. For instance, the magnetic fields of like poles of two magnets will repel each other. Similarly, in electrostatics, like charges repel each other, which is described by Coulomb's law.

Military Science

In military science, to repel an attack means to successfully defend against an enemy's offensive action. This can involve various strategies and tactics, such as the use of fortifications, counterattacks, and defensive maneuvers.

Repellents

Repellents are substances used to deter unwanted organisms. Common examples include insect repellents, which are applied to skin or clothing to prevent insect bites, and rodent repellents, which are used to keep rodents away from certain areas.

See Also

• Attract
• Force
• Defense mechanism
• Electrostatic force
• Magnetic field