Comparison of strong nuclear force and electromagnetic force

In summary, the strong nuclear force is significantly stronger than the electromagnetic force, especially at small distances such as the size of a proton or neutron. This is due to its components of quark confinement and nuclear binding, which operate differently than the inverse distance squared mechanism of the electromagnetic force.
  • #1
clallier
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How much stronger is the strong nuclear force compared it to the electromagnetic force beyond what could be accounted for by the inverse of the distance squared?
 
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clallier said:
How much stronger is the strong nuclear force compared it to the electromagnetic force beyond what could be accounted for by the inverse of the distance squared?

Welcome to PhysicsForums, clallier!

It is a bit difficult to answer your question since these 2 forces do not operate using the same mechanism. The strongest component of the strong force would be considered quark confinement, which does not actually operate on the basis of inverse distance squared. Instead, it gets stronger to a point as distance increases (and we are talking very small distances, the size of a proton/neutron). This is many orders of magnitude stronger than the electromagnetic force, so much so that the EM force is negligible at this range.

The other well-known component of the strong force is nuclear binding, which is what keeps the positive charges in the nucleus together despite their electromagnetic repulsion. At the range of the nucleus, the strong force is perhaps 2 or 3 orders of magnitude stronger than the EM force although again, they are not directly comparable.

See this for some more detail information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_interaction
 

FAQ: Comparison of strong nuclear force and electromagnetic force

What is the strong nuclear force?

The strong nuclear force is one of the fundamental forces of nature that holds the nucleus of an atom together. It is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in the nucleus.

What is the electromagnetic force?

The electromagnetic force is another fundamental force that is responsible for interactions between charged particles. It is the force behind electricity, magnetism, and light.

How do the strong nuclear force and electromagnetic force compare?

The strong nuclear force is much stronger than the electromagnetic force at extremely short distances, such as within the nucleus of an atom. However, the electromagnetic force has a much longer range and is responsible for interactions between all charged particles.

What are the differences between the strong nuclear force and electromagnetic force?

The strong nuclear force only acts on particles within the nucleus, while the electromagnetic force acts on all charged particles. Additionally, the strong nuclear force is responsible for binding particles together, while the electromagnetic force can both attract and repel particles.

Why are the strong nuclear force and electromagnetic force important?

Both forces play crucial roles in the structure and stability of matter. Without the strong nuclear force, the nucleus of an atom would not hold together and the universe would look drastically different. The electromagnetic force is responsible for many everyday phenomena, such as electricity and chemistry.

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