Describe how the strong nuclear force between nucleons varies with seperation of the nucleons.

At short distances between the nucleons at roughly 3 femtometers or so, the strong nuclear force between two nucleons begins to overcome the electrostatic repulsion (if both or one nucleon is a proton). The strong force then becomes it's strongest at roughly 1.5 femtometers, hence meaning that is the typical seperation between two nucleons. At even shorter distances than that the force then starts to become a repulsive force at roughly 0.2 femtometers or so, this is to prevent the nucleons from colliding into a singlarity. 

RW
Answered by Rebecca W. Physics tutor

18114 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe the interaction that is responsible for keeping protons and neutrons together in a stable nucleus.


Derive an expression for the time taken, (t) for a test mass to fall to the ground from a height (h) in a uniform gravitational field (g = 9.81 ms^-2)


How does conservation of momentum work when at least one of the bodies in the problem changes mass?


What is the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning