Question

Which items are directly related to radioactive decay?

electrostatic forces of repulsion

E = mc2

electrostatic forces of attraction

mass defect

Answer 1

Directly related:
- Electrostatic forces of repulsion
- Mass defect

Why: electrostatic repulsion between protons reduces nuclear stability and helps drive processes like alpha emission and fission. Mass defect (binding energy) is the nuclear energy difference that is released in radioactive decay.

Not directly related:
- Electrostatic forces of attraction — this refers to electron–proton attraction in atoms, not the forces that govern nuclear stability/decay.
- E = mc^2 — this is the mass–energy equivalence that explains how the mass defect becomes released energy, but it’s a general principle rather than a direct cause of decay.