2.34. Atomic Forces http://www.ck12.org
2.34 Atomic Forces
- Describe electromagnetic forces within the atom.
- Explain how the strong nuclear force holds the nucleus together.
- Outline how the weak nuclear force changes atoms.
You’ve probably used items like those pictured here. What do all of them have in common? They are all used to hold
things together. However, they do so in different ways. Like these different kinds of fasteners, there are different
kinds of “fasteners” that hold together the subatomic particles inside atoms. The “fasteners” are called forces, and
there are three different kinds of them at work inside the atom: electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and
weak nuclear force. For an introduction to these forces inside the atom, see the colorful tutorial at this URL: http
://www.ric.edu/faculty/ptiskus/Atomic_Force/.
Electromagnetic Force
Electromagnetic force is a force of attraction or repulsion between all electrically charged particles. This force is
transferred between charged particles of matter by fundamental force-carrying particles called photons. Because of
electromagnetic force, particles with opposite charges attract each other and particles with the same charge repel
each other.