The strong nuclear force overcomes the electrostatic force of repulsion between protons in the nucleus and holds neutrons and protons together.The range is between 3 - 4fm and it has the same effect between 2 protons as between 2 neutrons or a proton and neutron. It is attractive from 3 - 4 fm to 0.5 fm and repulsive from less than 0.5fm.
The Strong Nuclear Force
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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.2.1.4 Particle interactions. Topic: Particles and Radiation.
Key terms in this lesson
- Strong nuclear force
- The short-range attractive force between nucleons that overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between protons and holds the nucleus together, becoming repulsive at very short separations.
- Weak nuclear force
- The fundamental interaction responsible for beta decay, in which particles interact through the exchange of W bosons.
- Meson
- A hadron made of a quark-antiquark pair, for example the pion and the kaon.
- Muon
- A negatively charged lepton, similar to but much heavier than the electron, produced for example by cosmic rays in the atmosphere.
- Pion
- A meson, made of a quark-antiquark pair, that may be positively charged, negatively charged or neutral; produced through the strong interaction and decaying through the weak interaction.
More in Particles and Radiation
- Structure of the Atom
- Isotopes
- Specific Charge
- Forces in the Nucleus
- Radioactive Decay
- Alpha Radiation
- Beta Radiation
- Gamma Radiation and Electromagnetic Waves
All 22 lessons in Particles and Radiation · All AQA AS-level Physics topics