nuclear force

(noun)

The force that acts between nucleons and binds protons and neutrons into atomic nuclei; the residual strong force.

Related Terms

Examples of nuclear force in the following topics:

  • Nuclear Fusion

    • This force, called the strong nuclear force, overcomes electric repulsion in a very close range.
    • The effect of nuclear force is not observed outside the nucleus, hence the force has a strong dependence on distance; it a short-range force.
    • When a nucleon is added to a nucleus, the nuclear force attracts it to other nucleons, but primarily to its immediate neighbors due to the short range of the force.
    • At nucleus radii distances, the attractive nuclear force is stronger than the repulsive electrostatic force.
    • Describe the electrostatic and strong nuclear forces and how they act to oppose or promote a fusion reaction

  • Nuclear Stability

    • An isotope's nuclear stability depends on the balance of electric and nuclear forces between its protons and neutrons and their arrangement.
    • In nuclear physics, stability of an atom's nucleus depends on the number of protons and neutrons it contains.
    • The protons, which are both positively charged, repel one another through electrostatic force.
    • This force is offset by the nuclear force, which attracts protons and neutrons.
    • This is because, for any constant number of protons, the difference between nuclear force and electrostatic repulsion of protons increases with increasing neutron count.

  • Nuclear Fission

    • The strong nuclear force is the force between two or more nucleons.
    • These two forces produce opposite effects in the nucleus.
    • The strong nuclear force acts to hold all the protons and neutrons close together, while the electromagnetic force acts to push protons further apart.
    • In atoms with small nuclei, the strong nuclear force overpowers the electromagnetic force.
    • As the nucleus gets bigger, the electromagnetic force becomes greater than the strong nuclear force.

  • High Resolution Spectra

    • Because the strong nuclear forces that bind the components of an atomic nucleus together vary, the actual mass of a given isotope deviates from its nominal integer by a small but characteristic amount (remember E = mc2).

  • Nuclear Binding Energy and Mass Defect

    • This energy—available as nuclear energy—can be used to produce nuclear power or build nuclear weapons.
    • The rationale for this peak in binding energy is the interplay between the coulombic repulsion of the protons in the nucleus, because like charges repel each other, and the strong nuclear force, or strong force.
    • The strong force is what holds protons and neutrons together at short distances.
    • As the size of the nucleus increases, the strong nuclear force is only felt between nucleons that are close together, while the coulombic repulsion continues to be felt throughout the nucleus; this leads to instability and hence the radioactivity and fissile nature of the heavier elements.
    • Calculate the mass defect and nuclear binding energy of an atom

  • Fusion Reactors

    • A fusion reactor is designed to use the thermal energy from nuclear fusion to produce electricity.
    • Fusion power is the power generated by nuclear fusion processes.
    • This is similar to the process used in fossil fuel and nuclear fission power stations.
    • The basic concept behind any fusion reaction is to bring two or more nuclei close enough so that the residual strong force (nuclear force) in their nuclei will pull them together into one larger nucleus.
    • To overcome this electrostatic force, or "Coulomb barrier," the kinetic energy of the atoms must be increased.

  • The Shielding Effect and Effective Nuclear Charge

    • In hydrogen-like atoms, which have just one electron, the net force on the electron is as large as the electric attraction from the nucleus.
    • This causes the net electrostatic force on electrons in outer shells to be significantly smaller in magnitude.
    • The effective nuclear charge on an electron is given by the following equation:
    • What is the effective nuclear charge for each?
    • Diagram of the concept of effective nuclear charge based on electron shielding.

  • The Hydrogen Bomb

    • The hydrogen bomb is a nuclear weapon that uses a mixture of fission and fusion to produce a massive explosion.
    • A thermonuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon designed to use the heat generated by a fission bomb to compress a nuclear fusion stage.
    • After this, the secondary explosive is compressed by X-rays coming from the nuclear fission of the primary explosive.
    • The only two nuclear weapons that have been used were both fission-based.
    • As such, the main explosive force for the explosion still arises from a fission reaction, but the neutron source for it arises from fusion.

  • Nuclear Reactors

    • A nuclear reactor is a piece of equipment in which nuclear chain reactions can be harnessed to produce energy in a controlled way.
    • The energy released from nuclear fission can be harnessed to make electricity with a nuclear reactor.
    • A nuclear reactor is a piece of equipment where nuclear chain reactions can be controlled and sustained.
    • However, nuclear reactors produce nuclear waste containing radioactive elements.
    • Describe the nuclear chain reaction process utilized in most nuclear reactors

  • Isotopes in Medicine

    • Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that involves the application of radioactive substances to diagnose or treat disease.
    • In nuclear medicine procedures, radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds.
    • This property of radiopharmaceuticals allows nuclear medicine the ability to image the extent of a disease process in the body.
    • In nuclear medical imaging, radiopharmaceuticals are taken internally, either intravenously or orally.
    • The radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine therapy emit ionizing radiation that travels only a short distance.