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The atomic nucleus is the dense central part of an atom, consisting of protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles). Despite the repulsive electrostatic (Coulombic) force between positively charged protons, the nucleus remains tightly bound. This is possible because another fundamental interaction, known as the nuclear force, overcomes this repulsion.
This nuclear binding force is often explained in terms of exchange forces. It is a strong attractive force acting between nucleons (protons and neutrons) at very short distances, approximately 1 femtometer (10⁻¹⁵ meters). This force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature and is significantly stronger than the Coulombic force at such short ranges.
Origin: Caused by the exchange of particles called mesons (pions) between protons and neutrons, as described in Yukawa’s theory of nuclear forces.
Range: Extremely short; becomes negligible beyond the size of a nucleus.
Strength: About 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force, allowing it to hold the nucleus together.
Independence from charge: It acts equally between neutron-neutron, proton-proton, and neutron-proton pairs, provided they are close enough.
Other forces listed in the options are not responsible for nuclear binding:
Gravitational forces are far too weak at the atomic scale to hold nucleons together.
Coulombic forces are repulsive between protons and cannot bind the nucleus.
Magnetic forces are also too weak to play a significant role in nuclear binding.
Thus, the exchange force, mediated by meson particles, is the primary mechanism that keeps nucleons bound inside the nucleus despite their natural repulsion. Without this strong force, atomic nuclei could not exist, and matter as we know it would not form.
The correct answer is Exchange forces, as they are responsible for maintaining the stability of atomic nuclei.
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