Video Transcript
The given diagram shows the atomic
nucleus for an atom of helium containing two protons and two neutrons and the
attractive and repulsive forces acting on the particles. What are the names of the
attractive and repulsive interactions shown in the diagram?
The nuclei in atoms are composed of
positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. The force of electrostatic
repulsion causes particles with like charges to intensely repel one another. So we might expect all nuclei to be
unstable as the positively charged protons in the nucleus repel one another. But we know that atoms exist, and
many have stable nuclei, so there must be an attractive force that holds the nucleus
together. This attractive force is known as
the strong nuclear force or residual strong force. The strong nuclear force is the
strongest fundamental force of nature, and it is significantly stronger than
electrostatic force.
The strong nuclear force is quite
unusual because it is incredibly strong but only at a distance of roughly one proton
diameter. It is practically nonexistent at
longer distances. The strong nuclear force occurs
between protons, between neutrons, and between protons and neutrons. Because the strong nuclear force
only operates over a very short distance, it only occurs between neighboring
particles, while electrostatic force has an infinite range. This is why larger nuclei are often
unstable.
In conclusion, the names of the
attractive and repulsive interactions between protons and neutrons are strong
nuclear force and electrostatic repulsion.
