Nuclear forceThe nuclear force (or nucleon–nucleon interaction, residual strong force, or, historically, strong nuclear force) is a force that acts between hadrons, most commonly observed between protons and neutrons of atoms. Neutrons and protons, both nucleons, are affected by the nuclear force almost identically.
ProtonA proton is a stable subatomic particle, symbol p, H, or H with a positive electric charge of +1 e (elementary charge). Its mass is slightly less than the mass of a neutron and approximately 1836 times the mass of an electron (the proton-to-electron mass ratio). Protons and neutrons, each with a mass of approximately one dalton, are jointly referred to as nucleons (particles present in atomic nuclei). One or more protons are present in the nucleus of every atom.
Fundamental interactionIn physics, the fundamental interactions or fundamental forces are interactions in nature that appear not to be reducible to more basic interactions. There are four fundamental interactions known to exist: gravity, electromagnetism, weak interaction, and strong interaction. The gravitational and electromagnetic interactions produce long-range forces whose effects can be seen directly in everyday life.QuarkElementary particle, fundamental constituent of matterA quark ( ) is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. All commonly observable matter is composed of up quarks, down quarks, and electrons.
NucleonIn physics and chemistry, a nucleon is either a proton or a neutron, considered in its role as a component of an atomic nucleus. The number of nucleons in a nucleus defines the atom's mass number. Until the 1960s, nucleons were thought to be elementary particles, not made up of smaller parts. Now they are understood as composite particles, made of three quarks bound together by the strong interaction.
HadronIn particle physics, a hadron is a composite subatomic particle made of two or more quarks that are held together by the strong nuclear force. Pronounced , the name is derived from Ancient Greek (hadrós)'stout, thick'. They are analogous to molecules, which are held together by the electromagnetic force.
Particle physicsParticle physics or high-energy physics is the study of fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and radiation. The field also studies combinations of elementary particles up to the scale of protons and neutrons, while the study of combinations of protons and neutrons is called nuclear physics. The fundamental particles in the universe are classified in the Standard Model as fermions (matter particles) and bosons (force-carrying particles).
NeutronSubatomic particle with no chargeA neutron is a subatomic particle, symbol n or n, that has no electric charge, and a mass slightly greater than that of a proton. The neutron was discovered by James Chadwick in 1932, leading to the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, the first self-sustaining nuclear reactor (Chicago Pile-1, 1942), and the first nuclear weapon (Trinity, 1945). Neutrons are found, together with a similar number of protons, in the nuclei of atoms.
ElectromagnetismIn physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interactions of atoms and molecules. Electromagnetism describes and relates the three distinct but closely intertwined phenomena of electricity, magnetism, and optics.
FemtometreThe femtometre (American spelling femtometer), symbol fm, (derived from the Danish and Norwegian word femten 'fifteen', Ancient Greek: μέτρον, romanized: metron, lit. 'unit of measurement') is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) equal to 10−15 metres, which means a quadrillionth of one metre.
Nuclear physicsNuclear physics is the field of physics that studies atomic nuclei and their constituents and interactions, in addition to the study of other forms of nuclear matter. Nuclear physics should not be confused with atomic physics, which studies the atom as a whole, including its electrons.
Mass–energy equivalencePhysics concept expressed as E = mc²E = mc—In SI units, the energy E is measured in joules, the mass m is measured in kilograms, and the speed of light is measured in metres per second.In physics, mass–energy equivalence is the relationship between mass and energy in a system's rest frame. The two differ only by a multiplicative constant and the units of measurement. The principle is described by the physicist Albert Einstein's formula: E=mc2.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.