Weak Nuclear Force: Electron Ejection Explained

[David Chesnut]

Is the weak nuclear force really a force? How can an electron be ejected from a nucleus which has many protons; wouldn't positive charges hold it back?

 

[Orodruin]

You will find particle physicists talk more about interactions than forces at the quantum level and the weak interactions are definitely at the same footing as strong and electomagnetic interactions.

Yes, the electromagnetic attraction on the electron does slow down the emitted electron. However, the energy release (in a beta decay, some mass is converted into kinetic energy distributed to the decay product) in beta decay is larger than this effect and the electrons do escape.