What are the properties of nuclear forces?

Atomic nuclei must be in balance. The residual strong nuclear force, which binds adjacent protons and neutrons, balances the electromagnetic force, which causes all protons in a nucleus to repel each other. The strong nuclear force has a very short wavelength.

The weak nuclear force can convert a proton into a neutron, a positron, and an electron neutrino; it can also convert a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an electron anti-neutrino. The weak nuclear force can take a long time to operate, which is why some radioactive elements have such long half lives. Only certain combinations of protons and neutrons can create a stable nucleus.

The properties of nuclear forces are:

1. Short-range: Nuclear forces act only over very short distances, typically within the range of a few femtometers.

2. Strong: Nuclear forces are the strongest known forces in nature, overcoming the repulsive electrostatic forces between positively charged protons in the nucleus.

3. Charge independence: Nuclear forces are charge independent, meaning they do not depend on the charge of the particles involved.

4. Spin dependence: Nuclear forces depend on the spin orientation of the interacting particles.

5. Saturating: Nuclear forces become negligible at distances larger than the nuclear size, leading to a saturation of the potential energy at short distances.