Why protons stay together

This is, in the parlance of physics, a scattering experiment, and analyzing such scattering experiments has helped reveal the answer to our question. The nucleus of an atom the core consists of protons, which carry a positive electric charge, and neutrons, which carry no electric charge.

Electric charges which are alike, do indeed repel each other, much like poles of two magnets can repel. This repulsion is referred to as Coulomb repulsion, after the French physicist, Charles Coulomb who made many pioneering measurements of this force.

The repulsive force becomes huge when the electrically charged particles are very near one another, and in the nucleus protons are very close indeed. The size of the nucleus is on the order of 0.

This is a number so important in physics that it has its own name- the femtometer fm. Scattering experiments have revealed the presence of another force in the nucleus called the nuclear strong force. The strong force has also been found to be attractive- that is, it always pulls particles together, like gravity pulls us to the Earth.

However it is much stronger than gravity gravity is the weakest force in nature. Another curious feature of the strong force is the range over which it functions. Or sodium chloride, which is composed of positively charged sodium ions held together with negatively charged chlorine ions. Positive attracts negative. Negative charges repel negative charges.

Why is water bent, for instance? Positive charges repel positive charges. The Really Big Picture Physicists have identified four fundamental forces in nature that are responsible for all the phenomena we observe.

They are gravity, which acts at long range, and is attractive but weak electromagnetism — responsible for the behavior of electric and magnetic fields. Two observations: Chemistry is predominantly about electromagnetism. Polar Aprotic? Are Acids!

What Holds The Nucleus Together? The di-neutron probably has no bound state. The Deuter on is barely bound by nuclear standards. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. Featured on Meta. Now live: A fully responsive profile. Linked Related 5. Chemistry Expert. Helmenstine holds a Ph.

She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter. Updated November 06, Featured Video. Cite this Article Format.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph. Chemistry Definitions: What are Electrostatic Forces? Basic Model of the Atom and Atomic Theory. Atoms and Atomic Theory - Study Guide.