What are the four fundamental forces in physics?
Q: What are the four fundamental forces in physics?
A: The four fundamental forces in physics are electromagnetism, the weak interaction, gravitation, and the strong nuclear force.
Q: How is the strong nuclear force different from other fundamental forces?
A: The strong nuclear force is much stronger than gravity (1038 times stronger) but it only works over very short distances of a few femtometres (fm). It holds subatomic particles like neutrons and protons together, as well as keeping the atomic nucleus together.
Q: What is quantum chromodynamics?
A: Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is a theory that explains different colours. It says that the strong force acts between quarks and gluons.
Q: How does colour confinement work?
A: Colour confinement occurs when so much energy would be needed to separate a quark that new hadrons would be created instead. This phenomenon can be seen in particle accelerators.
Q: What particles carry a colour charge?
A: Quarks, antiquarks, and gluons all carry a colour charge which is similar to electric charge.
Q: How do particles with colour charge interact with each other?
A: Particles with colour charge exchange gluons between each other, just like particles with electric charge exchange photons between each other.
Q: What happens when two hadrons made up of quarks interact with each other?
A: When two hadrons made up of quarks interact with each other, this effect of the strong force is known as the nuclear force (which is not fundamental).
