The competition between the electrostatic force between the protons in a nucleus and the strong nuclear force determines whether a nucleus is stable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electrostatic force between the positively charged protons in the nucleus causes an inward pull towards the center of the nucleus, which can cause it to become unstable if it is too large. The strong nuclear force, which holds the nucleus together, must be strong enough to counteract the electrostatic force in order for the nucleus to remain stable. Therefore, the competition between these two forces determines whether a nucleus is stable or not.

The Competition Between the Electrostatic Force Between the Protons in a Nucleus