What are the four fundamental forces of nature?

1 answer

The four fundamental forces of nature are:

  1. Gravitational Force: This force is responsible for the attraction between masses. It governs the motion of celestial bodies and the structure of the universe on a large scale. Gravity is the weakest of the four forces but has an infinite range.

  2. Electromagnetic Force: This force acts between charged particles and is responsible for electricity, magnetism, and light. It is much stronger than gravity and also has an infinite range. It can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the charges involved.

  3. Weak Nuclear Force: This force is responsible for certain types of radioactive decay and processes such as beta decay. It acts at very short ranges, on the order of 0.1% of the diameter of a proton, and is weaker than both the electromagnetic and strong nuclear forces.

  4. Strong Nuclear Force: This is the strongest of the four forces and is responsible for holding protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei. It operates over very short distances, on the order of a femtometer (10^-15 meters), and is crucial for the stability of atomic matter.

These four forces govern the interactions and behavior of matter in the universe.