Which force is responsible for holding protons together in the nucleus?

The strong nuclear force is the fundamental force responsible for holding protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom. This force operates at very short distances, on the order of femtometers (10^-15 meters), which is roughly the size of atomic nuclei.

Protons are positively charged and would normally repel each other due to the electromagnetic force, which acts between charged particles. However, the strong nuclear force overcomes this electromagnetic repulsion, binding protons and neutrons together. It is significantly stronger than the electromagnetic force at such short ranges, making it crucial for the stability of atomic nuclei.

In addition to binding protons, the strong nuclear force also affects neutrons, contributing to the overall stability of the nucleus. Without this force, atomic nuclei would not be able to exist as protons would repel each other, leading to unstable configurations.

The other forces, such as the gravitational and weak nuclear forces, play different roles in the universe but do not contribute significantly to the binding of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Gravitational force is the weakest of the four fundamental forces and is not a significant factor at the scale of atomic nuclei, while the weak nuclear force is responsible for processes like beta decay rather than holding