What is the function of the weak nuclear force?
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What is the function of the weak nuclear force?
weak interaction, also called weak force or weak nuclear force, a fundamental force of nature that underlies some forms of radioactivity, governs the decay of unstable subatomic particles such as mesons, and initiates the nuclear fusion reaction that fuels the Sun.
What is an example of a weak nuclear force?
The weak force, also called the weak nuclear interaction, is responsible for particle decay. This is the literal change of one type of subatomic particle into another. So, for example, a neutrino that strays close to a neutron can turn the neutron into a proton while the neutrino becomes an electron.
What kind of energy is emitted as a result of the weak nuclear force?
By emitting an electrically charged W boson, the weak force changes the flavor of a quark, which causes a proton to change into a neutron, or vice versa. This is what triggers nuclear fusion and causes stars to burn, according to CERN.
What are the weak and strong nuclear forces and what are they responsible for?
The Strong Nuclear Force is an attractive force between protons and neutrons that keep the nucleus together and the Weak Nuclear Force is responsible for the radioactive decay of certain nuclei.
Why is weak force weak?
In the weak interaction, fermions can exchange three types of force carriers, namely W+, W−, and Z bosons. In fact, the force is termed weak because its field strength over a given distance is typically several orders of magnitude less than that of the strong nuclear force or electromagnetic force.
What’s the difference between weak nuclear force and strong?
The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in an atomic nucleus. The weak nuclear force is responsible for radioactive decay by being able to convert a proton into a neutron of vice versa.
Is weak nuclear force repulsive?
The weak nuclear force is neither attractive or repulsive.
Why is the weak nuclear force weak?
In fact, the force is termed weak because its field strength over a given distance is typically several orders of magnitude less than that of the strong nuclear force or electromagnetic force.
Is weak nuclear force is attractive or repulsive force?
The third of these nuclear interactions is the ‘weak’ force ; neither attractive nor repulsive, it acts inside the individual nucleons and can occasionally lead to a neutron’s transformation into a protonon (or vice versa), accompanied by a release of beta radiation.