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We know that the protons in a nucleus are positively charged, whereas the neutrons do not possess a charge; we also know that unlike charges attract. So why does the nucleus stay intact, even though there isn't supposed to be any electrostatic force of attraction within it? Instead, why isn't there any repulsion between the protons which are like-charged?

Qmechanic
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Graviton
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2 Answers2

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Short answer: the strong nuclear force.

The strong nuclear force binds nucleons (protons and neutrons) together. It is a very short-range force, which is why it only acts over distances on the scale of atomic nuclei. There is repulsion between the protons, which is why, as the number of protons goes up, more and more neutrons are required to stabilize the nucleus (look at how atomic mass goes up relative to atomic number on a periodic table). More nucleons (protons and neutrons) means more strong force, and more neutrons means more space between the protons, reducing the repulsion. Together, these effects can produce a stable nucleus.

Stable here is a relative term, since nuclear decay occurs for many isotopes in which the particular number of protons and neutrons isn't stable in the long term (sometimes very long). All elements above lead on the periodic table have too many protons and are all radioactive, since no number of neutrons is able to fully stabilize the atoms against nuclear decay. This is partly a result of the proton-proton repulsion you refer to.

Mitchell
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    Does the nuclear force obey the inverse square law? – Graviton May 26 '12 at 15:09
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    Oh no, not even close. There's a whole field (quantum chromodynamics, QCD) dedicated to describing the force/interaction. In point of fact, the system of equations hasn't been solved algebraically, only numerically. There's no "simple" explanation like an inverse square law. – Mitchell May 26 '12 at 15:20
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    @argentocyanide: http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/8452/is-there-an-equation-for-the-strong-nuclear-force – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten May 26 '12 at 15:20
  • Hi @Mitchell: i agree with you.. but suppose neutrons are not present, shouldnt the charge from electrons stabalize the charge for protons.. or is the repel force very much between the protons? i mean more than the force of attraction b/w electron and proton ? – Rebooting Nov 23 '14 at 15:39
  • "All elements above lead on the periodic table have too many protons and are all radioactive"

    Just wanted to point out that the element after lead, bismuth, is for all intents and purposes also radioactively stable for its natural isotope. Polonium is where things actually start going downhill.

     – Blaise May 27 '19 at 23:41
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The strong force is also known as the color force which holds quarks together by exchanging gluons. The force that holds protons and neutrons together can also be called the residual color force. Other names I've also heard are residual nuclear force and residual strong force.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/forces/funfor.html#c2

ps. some calculations can be made using pions.

Jitter
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