What is the difference between fundamental and non-fundamental forces?
1 Answer
Fundamental forces are independent, non fundamental forces can be explained in terms of fundamental forces.
Explanation:
It is better to use the term interaction rather than force as two of the four fundamental interactions are not really forces.
Electromagnetism the the fundamental interaction which causes attraction, repulsion and motion of charged particles. The photon is the boson which mediates the interaction.
The colour force is a fundamental interaction which binds quarks into mesons and baryons. Gluons and the bosons which mediate the interaction.
The weak force is a fundamental force which causes beta radioactivity. It can convert a proton into a neutron, a positron and an electron neutrino. The W and Z bosons mediate the interaction.
Gravity is the fundamental interaction which causes masses to attract each other. It is a consequence of the curvature of spacetime.
The strong nuclear force used to be considered a fundamental interaction, but it is now known to be a residual effect of the colour force.
Forces such as friction are actually the result of electromagnetic interaction between electrons.
