What is an example of each of the fundamental forces of nature?

1 Answer
Aug 18, 2017

The fundamental forces are the strong, electromagnetic, weak and gravity.

Explanation:

The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding adjacent protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus. It is strong but very short ranged. Actually the strong force should be called the residual strong force. It is actually a residual effect of the colour force which binds quarks together inside protons and neutrons.

The electromagnetic force is responsible for the interactions between charged particles. Electric currents and magnetic fields are all generated by the electromagnetic force.

The weak nuclear force is responsible for radioactive beta decay. It can turn a proton into a neutron, a positron and an electron neutrino. It can also turn a neutron into a proton, and electron and an electron antineutrino.

Gravity is the force which makes things fall and causes planets to orbit the sun. Newtons laws of gravity describe these. Actually, due to Einstein's equivalence between gravity and acceleration, gravity isn't actually a force. It is the consequence of the curvature of space time caused by mass.