The Weak Nuclear Force

AQA AS-level PhysicsParticles and RadiationLesson 18 of 22

The weak nuclear force causes neutrons to change into protons in β-minus decay and causes protons to change into neutrons in β-plus decay.

It is weaker than the strong nuclear force so does not affect stable nuclei.

In beta decay a particle and an antiparticle are created.

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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.
Beta particle: A fast-moving electron (beta-minus) or positron (beta-plus) emitted from the nucleus when a neutron changes into a proton, or a proton changes into a neutron, during beta decay.
Antiparticle: A particle with the same rest mass as its corresponding particle but with opposite charge and opposite values of other quantum properties.
Positron: The antiparticle of the electron: it has the same mass as an electron but a positive charge.
W boson: The exchange particle for the weak interaction; it may be positively charged (W+) or negatively charged (W-) and, unlike the photon, has a non-zero rest mass.