Preparing for L6 Physics #6: Nuclear forces

The building in the distance on the right of centre is Torness nuclear power station near Edinburgh. Energy is released from the nucleus of an atom by the process called nuclear fission. An understanding of the forces in the nucleus helps. When I was at school, it never stopped to wonder how protons could all stay together in the nucleus. They should repel. The first people to ask this question came up with a simple answer: there must be another attractive force acting that is stronger than the electrostatic repulsion. It is called the STRONG NUCLEAR FORCE because it is strong and acts between protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are called HADRONS. They are made of smaller bits inside. There is more detail awaiting a further post. Electrons are examples of another type of particle called LEPTONS which can't be split down any further. They don't experience the strong nuclear force. However, there is another force called the WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE that affects both hadrons and leptons.