Chapter 30, Problem 7Q

To determine

Similarities and differences between the strong nuclear force and electric force

Answer to Problem 7Q

Solution:

Electromagnetic force and strong nuclear force is that they both act on charged particles and difference is the nuclear forces are very short range whereas the electromagnetic force has a long range.

Explanation of Solution

Electromagnetic force and strong nuclear force is that they both act on charged particles

Strong nuclear force and electric force involved in holding atoms together. The strong nuclear force binds quarks into nucleons and binds nucleons together in the nucleus whereas the electric force is responsible for binding negatively charged electrons to positively charged nuclei and for binding atoms into molecules.

The strong nuclear force is the strongest fundamental force; the electromagnetic force is about 100 times weaker.

The strong nuclear force operates at short range and is negligible for distances greater than about the size of the nucleus. The electric forces are long range that decreases as the inverse square of the distance between the two interacting charged particles.

The strong nuclear force is always attractive force whereas the electric force can be attractive or repulsive force.

The nuclear forces are very short range whereas the electromagnetic force has a long range.