What is Nuclear Force - Definition, Example, Properties, FAQs

Nuclear force, also known as the strong force, is a fundamental interaction that binds protons and neutrons together within an atomic nucleus. Despite protons repelling each other due to their positive charge, nuclear force overcomes this repulsion to keep the nucleus stable. This force operates at extremely short ranges and is one of the strongest forces in nature.

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In this article, we will discuss, what is nuclear force, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force. What are the properties or characteristics of nuclear force? What are the examples of nuclear force? What are the ranges of nuclear force and meson theory of nuclear forces and yukawa theory of nuclear forces. So let’s see….

What is nuclear force?

The nuclear force (or nucleon–nucleon interaction, residual strong force, or, well founded, strong nuclear force) is force/speed that function/acts between the protons and neutrons of atoms. Neutrons and protons, each nucleon, are contrived by the nuclear force nearly identically.

The meaning of nuclear in tamil is “அணு Anu”

Definition: The force with which the nucleons leap jointly/together is known as nuclear force. It is the strong attractive force that binds the nucleons jointly/together.

The nuclear force is the force that ties up the protons and neutrons in a nucleus cooperatively. This force can survive between protons and protons, neutrons and protons or neutrons and neutrons. This force is what grasps the nucleus together.

The charge of protons, which is +1e tends to move them elsewhere from each other with a strong electric field repulsive force, following Coulomb’s law. Even so, nuclear force is strong sufficient to keep them together and to defeat that resistance at short range.

Example of nuclear force: The most apparent example of Nuclear Force, as considered premature, is the binding of protons, which are revolting (repulsive) in nature because of their positive charge.

• On a larger scale, this force is blameworthy for the immense destructive potential of nuclear munitions (weapons). The release of energy when nuclear munitions exploded is because of strong nuclear forces. It is also used in Nuclear power plants to produce heat for the reason of producing energy, such as electricity.
• A weaker nuclear power/ force can change a neutron into a proton and a proton into a neutron. These forces happen in many reactions such as radioactive decay, burning of the sun, radiocarbon dating etc.

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What are the characteristics or properties of nuclear force?

• It is captivating (attractive) in nature even with a repulsive core. That is the cause that the nucleus is clasp together without collapsing in them.
• The range of a nuclear force is very small (short). At 1 Fermi, the distance betwixt particles in a nucleus is small. At this range, the nuclear force is much stronger than the revolting (repulsive) Coulomb’s force that moves the particles away. However, if the distance is anything at all more than 2.5 Fermi, nuclear force is virtually non-existent.
• The nuclear force is same for all nucleons. It doesn't matter if it's a neutron or proton, once the Coulomb resistance is taken into consideration, nuclear force affects everything within the same way.
• At a distance of but 0.7 Fermi, this force becomes repulsive. It’s one among the foremost interesting properties of nuclear force, as this repulsive component of the force is what decides the dimensions of the nucleus. The nucleons come closer to every other till the purpose that the force allows, after which they can't come any closer due to the repulsive property of the force.

There are four basic Nuclear forces in nature:

1. Gravitational Force
2. Electromagnetic Force
3. Strong Nuclear Force
4. Weak Nuclear Force

What is a strong Nuclear force?

From the four fundamental forces, the nuclear forces are the strongest attractive forces.

Definition: It is defined as the elemental (fundamental) force of nature that holds proton and neutrons cooperatively (together) in the atomic nucleus.

The strongest force in nature is that the strong nuclear force, also referred to as the strong nuclear interaction. From the strong nuclear force definition, it's known that it's considerably more powerful than gravity. That's because it brings together the littlest particles of interest form bigger ones. The strong interaction binds the quarks that comprise protons and neutrons collectively, and it also brings the protons and neutrons of an atom’s nucleus around one another. The example of strong nuclear force is atomic nuclei. The protons in a nucleus attract/ repel each other; even so the strong nuclear force held together. The strong nuclear interaction/force is a very powerful, attractive/repulsive short-range (10-15 m) force that tie ups the protons and neutrons in the nuclei of atoms itself. It is the strongest of the elemental forces, even so acts over a very short distance (10-15 m).

Properties of Strong nuclear interaction/force

The strong interaction may be a fundamental force that acts between subatomic particles of matter. The strong force/interaction is what tie ups the quarks together in clusters to make more familiar subatomic particles like protons and neutrons. The force originates from a property referred to as the color. This property has no reference to color the visual world. Particles without color, for instance, electrons, don't experience the strong interaction. But, particles with color like quarks do experience the strong interaction.

What is weak nuclear force?

Definition: Weak force is that the force existing between the elementary particles which are liable for certain processes to require place at a low probability.

Example: Weak nuclear forces are liable for the decay, specifically the decay neutrino interactions. It’s a really short range (less than 1 fm) and this force is, because the name suggests, weak in nature.

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Properties of Weak nuclear force

1. Weak nuclear force is that the only force which doesn't follow parity-symmetry.
2. It is the sole force that doesn't follow charge-parity symmetry.
3. Weak nuclear force is liable for the change in quark into other forms.
4. Carrier particles with significant masses are liable for the propagation of the weak interaction.

Now we discuss about, MESON THEORY OF NUCLEAR FORCES

Yukawa Theory of Nuclear Forces:

Consistent with Yukawa theory the particles intermediate in mass between electrons and nucleons is liable for nuclear forces. Today these molecules or particles are called pions or p-measons.

p-mesons are often charged or charged or they will be neutral also. Consistent with Yukawa theory, each nucleon simultaneously emits and reabsorbs pions. If another nucleon is nearby, an emitted pion may shift across thereto rather than returning to parent nucleon. The associated transfer of momentum is like the action of force.

Nuclear forces are attractive/repulsive at the short-range also as being attractive at larger or big nucleon-nucleon distances, since otherwise, nucleons in the nucleus would mesh together. The elemental problem presents itself at now . If nucleons constantly emit and absorb pions, why neutrons are never found aside from their usual masses. the solution is predicated upon indeterminacy principle . The laws of physics ask for measurable quantities only and therefore the indeterminacy principle limits the accuracy with which certain measurements are often made. The emission of pion by a nucleon that doesn't change in mass is an obvious violation of conservation of energy. But this will happen if either nucleon reabsorbs the emitted pion or absorb another pion emitted by neighbouring nucleon so soon afterwards that it's impossible to work out whether any mass change has taken place or not. Other important characteristics of nuclear interaction are:

1. It’s a charge independent force and its magnitude is the same for p-p, p-n or n-n.
2. They very short range forces and are effective only up to a distance of few Fermi.
3. Its strongest force in nature and its magnitude is about 100 times stronger than interaction.
4. Nuclear force may be a saturation force as a given nucleon can interact only with its immediate neighbour’s and not all the nucleon present in the nucleus.
5. Nuclear forces are non-central forces and don’t acts only the road joining the 2 particles.
6. It’s a spin dependent force. Nucleons having parallel spin are more strongly sure to one another than nucleons having an antiparallel spin.

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