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yahsiv
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the nucleus has protons arranged in a small volume then why doesn't the nucleus become unstable due to repulsion?
yahsiv said:the nucleus has protons arranged in a small volume then why doesn't the nucleus become unstable due to repulsion?
The nucleus contains positively charged protons, which would normally repel each other due to their similar charges. However, the strong nuclear force overcomes this repulsion and holds the protons together within the nucleus. This force is much stronger than the electromagnetic force, which is responsible for the repulsion between the protons.
The strong nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces in nature and is responsible for holding together the nucleus of an atom. It is a short-range force that is much stronger than the electromagnetic force. This force is able to overcome the repulsion between protons by binding them together through the exchange of particles called gluons.
If there are too many protons in the nucleus, the repulsive force between them will eventually become stronger than the strong nuclear force. This can cause the nucleus to become unstable and undergo radioactive decay, where it releases excess protons and neutrons in order to become more stable.
The strong nuclear force is a fundamental force of nature and is extremely powerful. It is not possible for this force to be overcome by any known means. However, in certain extreme situations such as in a nuclear explosion or in the core of a neutron star, the strong nuclear force can be disrupted, leading to a release of energy.
The number of neutrons in the nucleus plays a crucial role in determining its stability. While the strong nuclear force holds the protons together, the neutrons act as buffers between the positively charged protons, reducing the overall repulsion within the nucleus. An optimal ratio of protons to neutrons is necessary for a stable nucleus. If there are too few or too many neutrons, the nucleus can become unstable and undergo radioactive decay.