When two electrons approach each other, their mutual electromagnetic repulsion due to their like charges causes them to experience a force pushing them apart. This force is described by Coulomb's law, which states that the force between two charged particles is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
As a result of this repulsive force, the electrons will tend to move away from each other. The exact behavior depends on various factors such as their initial velocities, trajectories, and the presence of other particles or external fields. If the electrons have enough kinetic energy, they may scatter off each other, changing their directions of motion.
It's important to note that electrons are quantum particles, and their interactions are governed by quantum mechanics. In quantum mechanics, the behavior of particles is described probabilistically, and there is a range of possible outcomes for their interactions. The scattering of two electrons is a quantum mechanical process that involves the exchange of virtual particles called photons, which mediate the electromagnetic force between the electrons.
However, at everyday energies and scales, the repulsion between two electrons is typically strong enough to prevent them from coming into direct contact or merging. The exclusion principle, a fundamental principle in quantum mechanics, states that two electrons (or any fermions with half-integer spin) cannot occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. This principle plays a crucial role in determining the structure of matter and ensures the stability of atoms and molecules.
So, while electrons can interact and scatter off each other, they do not merge or collide in the same way that macroscopic objects do. Their mutual repulsion prevents them from occupying the same quantum state and keeps them distinct entities.