Strong and Weak Force: Difference between revisions
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The strong and weak forces are the forces that govern the subatomic behavior of atoms. | The strong and weak forces are the forces that govern the subatomic behavior of atoms. | ||
This is a short introduction to the nuclear strong and weak forces, the other two of the four fundamental forces. These two forces will not be covered in depth by this class, and as such this is just a general overview. | |||
==Main Idea== | ==Main Idea== | ||
The strong nuclear force governs interactions on a scale of <math> 1 fm = 10^{-15} m </math>. The strong force is <math> 10^{38} </math> times stronger than the force of gravity, and 137 times stronger than the electromagnetic force. It is the strongest of the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force). The strong force is what binds neutrons and protons together to create nuclei. Because it is stronger than the electromagnetic force, it allows particles with the same charge sign to be compressed together despite their revulsion due to the electromagnetic force. On an even smaller scale, the strong nuclear force is what holds quarks together. When quarks are held together, they create particles such as protons and neutrons. | The strong nuclear force governs interactions on a scale of <math> 1 fm = 10^{-15} m </math>. The strong force is <math> 10^{38} </math> times stronger than the force of gravity, and 137 times stronger than the electromagnetic force. It is the strongest of the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force). The strong force is what binds neutrons and protons together to create nuclei. Because it is stronger than the electromagnetic force, it allows particles with the same charge sign to be compressed together despite their revulsion due to the electromagnetic force. On an even smaller scale, the strong nuclear force is what holds quarks together. When quarks are held together, they create particles such as protons and neutrons. Quarks are a class of subatomic molecules that, when combined, create hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons. Electrons are NOT hadrons. | ||
The weak nuclear force, on the other hand, governs interactions on a scale of <math> 10^{-17} m </math>. The weak force in atoms causes radioactive decay in the atom, and is the force that allows neutrons to decay into protons, etc. | The weak nuclear force, on the other hand, governs interactions on a scale of <math> 10^{-17} m </math>. The weak force in atoms causes radioactive decay in the atom, and is the force that allows neutrons to decay into protons, etc. | ||
Revision as of 16:03, 12 June 2019
The strong and weak forces are the forces that govern the subatomic behavior of atoms.
This is a short introduction to the nuclear strong and weak forces, the other two of the four fundamental forces. These two forces will not be covered in depth by this class, and as such this is just a general overview.
Main Idea
The strong nuclear force governs interactions on a scale of [math]\displaystyle{ 1 fm = 10^{-15} m }[/math]. The strong force is [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{38} }[/math] times stronger than the force of gravity, and 137 times stronger than the electromagnetic force. It is the strongest of the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force). The strong force is what binds neutrons and protons together to create nuclei. Because it is stronger than the electromagnetic force, it allows particles with the same charge sign to be compressed together despite their revulsion due to the electromagnetic force. On an even smaller scale, the strong nuclear force is what holds quarks together. When quarks are held together, they create particles such as protons and neutrons. Quarks are a class of subatomic molecules that, when combined, create hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons. Electrons are NOT hadrons.
The weak nuclear force, on the other hand, governs interactions on a scale of [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{-17} m }[/math]. The weak force in atoms causes radioactive decay in the atom, and is the force that allows neutrons to decay into protons, etc.