Is the strong nuclear force truly stronger at greater distances?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that the strong nuclear force does not increase with distance; rather, it weakens as particles come closer together. The confusion arises from a specific region of the force-distance graph where the force appears to increase at very short distances. Participants confirm that this misconception may stem from conflating the strong nuclear force with the residual strong force, which operates at larger distances between nucleons. The referenced graph illustrates these dynamics effectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fundamental forces in physics
  • Familiarity with nuclear physics concepts
  • Knowledge of force-distance relationships
  • Ability to interpret graphical data in scientific contexts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the characteristics of the strong nuclear force and its behavior at various distances
  • Study the concept of the residual strong force and its implications in nuclear interactions
  • Examine force-distance graphs in particle physics for better comprehension
  • Explore the role of quantum chromodynamics in explaining strong force interactions
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in nuclear physics and the fundamental forces of nature will benefit from this discussion.

gespex
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Hi all,

I read a while ago that there was a force that increased as distance increased. So I went to look around, and I read that it is supposedly the "strong nuclear force". However, reading up on the details, it didn't really seem to be the case at all.

I found this image for the relation between distance and force:
http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physics/emery/assets/9_5_op21.gif

And sure, there is a small region for which the force becomes stronger as the distance increases (actually, it's the other way around, the force becomes weaker as the distance decreases, as the typical separation distance is at the height of the force).

So what is up with this "increased distance increased force"? Are they really only referring to that small region of the graph for which this is true?
 
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gespex said:
Hi all,

I read a while ago that there was a force that increased as distance increased. So I went to look around, and I read that it is supposedly the "strong nuclear force". However, reading up on the details, it didn't really seem to be the case at all.

I found this image for the relation between distance and force:
http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physics/emery/assets/9_5_op21.gif

And sure, there is a small region for which the force becomes stronger as the distance increases (actually, it's the other way around, the force becomes weaker as the distance decreases, as the typical separation distance is at the height of the force).

So what is up with this "increased distance increased force"? Are they really only referring to that small region of the graph for which this is true?

Short answer - yes.
 
are you sure you arent confusing the strong force with the residual strong force?
 

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