Which fundamental force causes protons to repel each other inside the nucleus?

Which fundamental force causes protons to repel each other inside the nucleus?

• A. Gravitational force
• B. Strong nuclear force
• C. Electromagnetic force
• D. Weak nuclear force

Answer: (C)

Electric charges interact through the electromagnetic force, and protons carry positive charge, so the electromagnetic interaction between two protons is repulsive. This repulsion is described by Coulomb’s law, which shows the force grows stronger as the protons get closer. In the nucleus, the strong nuclear force acts at very short ranges to bind protons and neutrons together, overcoming this repulsion to hold the nucleus intact. Gravity is negligible at atomic scales, and the weak nuclear force governs certain decay processes rather than binding or repulsion. So, the repulsive interaction inside the nucleus is due to the electromagnetic force.

Electric charges interact through the electromagnetic force, and protons carry positive charge, so the electromagnetic interaction between two protons is repulsive. This repulsion is described by Coulomb’s law, which shows the force grows stronger as the protons get closer. In the nucleus, the strong nuclear force acts at very short ranges to bind protons and neutrons together, overcoming this repulsion to hold the nucleus intact. Gravity is negligible at atomic scales, and the weak nuclear force governs certain decay processes rather than binding or repulsion. So, the repulsive interaction inside the nucleus is due to the electromagnetic force.