Answer to Question #170959 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for gigi

Question

The electromagnetic force holds the protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom.Is this true or false

Answer 1

We know that protons have positive charge, but neutrons have no electric charge. Therefore, there is no electric force between proton and neutron. Protons interact with neutrons by the strong interaction.

Moreover, the repulsive electric force exerted by the proton on the other protons in nucleus tends to destroy the nucleus, but the strong interaction saves the nucleus as a whole structure.

Therefore, we conclude that protons and neutrons are hold together in the nucleus due to the strong (nuclear) interaction, not to the electromagnetic force.