How come protons within atoms aren’t constantly repelling each other?
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They are, in the sense that there exists a repulsive electromagnetic force between them.
But there is another force operating on them as well, an attractive force that is many times more powerful than the electromagnetic force: the strong nuclear force. It is this force that allows protons (and neutrons) to stay tightly bound in the nucleus of an atom.
Strong nuclear force pulls them together.
It has a very short range, though, so it’s very hard to get individual protons close together because the charges repel. However, if you do force them close enough, the strong nuclear force kicks in and snaps them together.
TLDR: They are, but other forces override this
The Nucleus of atoms is held together with what is aptly named the Strong Force.
This force is far stronger than the electromagnetic forces that cause Protons to repel each other, but it only works at very close ranges.
This is why it takes so much energy for Protons to fuse. The energy has to overcome the repulsion force until they are close enough for the Strong force to take over.
Just like forcing two positive ends of magnets together, they resist but the force you apply is strong enough to keep them together.
Neutrons also play a role. They can be thought of as creating a buffer between Protons that add stability to a nuclei. Without them the repulsive force of Protons breaks apart atomic nuclei and is partially responsible for why larger atoms decay into lighter ones.
they are, the electromagnetic force is trying to push them apart very strongly. however they’re tight enough together that another force: the strong nuclear force, takes over.
the strong force has a very short range, and if i remember right, it gets stronger the further away the items get, like a rubber band, until it snaps.
They are, in the sense that there exists a repulsive electromagnetic force between them.
But there is another force operating on them as well, an attractive force that is many times more powerful than the electromagnetic force: the strong nuclear force. It is this force that allows protons (and neutrons) to stay tightly bound in the nucleus of an atom.
they are, the electromagnetic force is trying to push them apart very strongly. however they’re tight enough together that another force: the strong nuclear force, takes over.
the strong force has a very short range, and if i remember right, it gets stronger the further away the items get, like a rubber band, until it snaps.
Strong nuclear force pulls them together.
It has a very short range, though, so it’s very hard to get individual protons close together because the charges repel. However, if you do force them close enough, the strong nuclear force kicks in and snaps them together.
Strong nuclear force pulls them together.
It has a very short range, though, so it’s very hard to get individual protons close together because the charges repel. However, if you do force them close enough, the strong nuclear force kicks in and snaps them together.
TLDR: They are, but other forces override this
The Nucleus of atoms is held together with what is aptly named the Strong Force.
This force is far stronger than the electromagnetic forces that cause Protons to repel each other, but it only works at very close ranges.
This is why it takes so much energy for Protons to fuse. The energy has to overcome the repulsion force until they are close enough for the Strong force to take over.
Just like forcing two positive ends of magnets together, they resist but the force you apply is strong enough to keep them together.
Neutrons also play a role. They can be thought of as creating a buffer between Protons that add stability to a nuclei. Without them the repulsive force of Protons breaks apart atomic nuclei and is partially responsible for why larger atoms decay into lighter ones.
they are, the electromagnetic force is trying to push them apart very strongly. however they’re tight enough together that another force: the strong nuclear force, takes over.
the strong force has a very short range, and if i remember right, it gets stronger the further away the items get, like a rubber band, until it snaps.
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