Why are the forces often called fundamental or basic forces? Where are these forces found? How are other forces related to them?

These four forces are called basic or fundamental because they are the basis for all interactions between objects in the universe; two are "macro" forces, affecting objects larger than atoms, and two are "micro" forces, affecting objects at the atomic scale. They are as follows:

A) Large-scale:

1. Gravity is the force that bends space, causes objects to orbit one another, "attracts" objects to one another, etc. It is the reason that we are not hurled into space.

2. Electricity and magnetism are produced by electromagnetism.

B) Micro:

1. The strong force holds atoms together. Atoms are made up of particles with either a positive or neutral electric charge. Without the strong force, the nuclei of all atoms except hydrogen would not remain together.

2. The weak force, which establishes the guidelines for nuclear fission and atom decay, is what controls nuclear decay.

We cannot get more fundamental than these forces, which is why they are called such: any other interactions or forces we observe in the Universe, such as stellar fusion, a running car engine, a nuclear bomb, or a functioning brain, can all be explained through them.

The forces—which are found throughout the universe and include gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force—are often referred to as fundamental or basic because they are believed to be the most fundamental interactions in nature, governing the behavior of matter at the most fundamental level. Other forces, like friction and tension, are derived from these fundamental forces through the interactions of particles and fields.