Nuclear forces

Nuclear forces are the powerful attractive forces that hold the protons and neutrons together in an atomic nucleus. These forces operate at very short ranges, just within the nucleus, and are much stronger than the electromagnetic forces that would otherwise push positively charged protons apart. There are two main types: the strong nuclear force, which directly binds protons and neutrons together, and the weak nuclear force, which plays a role in certain types of radioactive decay. Together, they are essential for the stability of atoms and the existence of all matter in the universe.