Why don't protons in the nucleus repel each other and break the atom apart?

Answer 1

One would think that since protons are all positive and like-charges repel each other, then the protons in the nucleus of an atom would fly apart. However, this is not the case due to the strong nuclear force.

The strong nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature along with gravity, electromagnetism, and the weak nuclear force. It is what holds all the protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus together. At incredibly close range (about the size of an atom) the strong nuclear force is stronger than the electromagnetic force; therefore, it overpowers the protons' repulsion.

This is not always the case, however. In the very massive nuclei of radioactive elements such as Uranium, the large number of protons creates such a large repulsive electromagnetic force that strong weak nuclear force can't hold them all together. In this case, protons do eventually "fly off" in what is known as radioactive decay.

Answer 2

There is a force in nature known as the strong nuclear force which acts at very small distances and is much stronger than other forces which cause like charges to repel. Also, neutrons with no charge in the nucleus may help to separate protons. Not a very good answer.

Answer 3

The nucleus stays together because there is another force acting that is stronger

than the repulsion of the protons for each other. Because it is stronger than the

electromagnetic force, scientists call it the strong nuclear force.

Answer 4

There is a force between nuclear particles that (1) is 100 times stronger than the electrical force and (2) operates over a short distance. Within a nucleus, the force pulling the protons and neutrons together is far stronger than the electro-static force pulling the protons away from each other.

Answer 5

As per the quantum theory there is fixed mass is there, in the Neutron, Proton and electron. Here the proton, neutron and electron are made up of three rods of miniature magnets. Each magnet is made up of mass that spins around itself with very high speed. Say in 'clockwise' direction. (The length of the magnet may be tens of times to thousands of time more than the breadth of the the magnet.) The spin has given the mass a magnetic property. The spin has given positive electric charge at one end and negative electric charge at another end. This charge can not 'flow' here. It is perfectly static. As there are no 'electrons' are there here to carry the electrical charge. The mass of the magnet is about 1876 times more in case the proton as compared to that of electron.

Now about the arrangement of the three miniature magnets in case of the proton, neutron and electron Now about the structure of the proton. Here the miniature magnets are placed like the 'Y' letter, or like the blades of the fan, which has got three blades. Here the arrangements is peculiar. Two magnets are having positive charge or say the north pole out side and say the south pole or negative charge at the center. Normally two same poles will repel each other. But both are held together by the north pole or the negative charge of the third magnet. So here you have the north pole spinning in between the two south poles. That gives stability to the structure and composition of the proton. Addition of two south poles and one north pole will give you net one south pole at the center. That means addition of two negative and one positive charge will give you net one negative charge at the center of the proton. Addition of two north poles and one south pole will give you net one north pole at the periphery. That means addition of two positive and one negative charge will give you net one positive charge at the periphery. Addition of two negative and one positive charge will give you net one negative charge at the center. Now the three magnets are rotating around the axis like the blades of the fan. At the periphery, you have got two say north poles and one south pole or two positive and one negative electrical charge. The addition of two north poles and one south pole will give you net one north pole or addition of two positive and one negative charge will give net one positive charge. Now you have a fan having north pole at the periphery of the fan and south pole at the center of the fan, or the fan which has got the positive charge at the outer side and negative charge at the center of the fan. For the outside world this fan acts like to have unit positive charge.

Now the structure of the neutron. It has got the same 'Y' shape like a fan. You draw a diagram of the proton as given above. You have two positive charges and one negative charge out side. Now you add one electron to one positive charge out side. It has become neutral. Then you add a pair of positron and electron. Together they are nothing. So they get created by reverse process of annihilation. Positron is added to the negative terminal. Electron is added to the positive terminal. Now you have a neutron ready with no charge and added the mass of three electrons. ( The mass of positron is being equal to electron.)Now to confirm this fact by simple mathematical calculation. Protons are only about 99.86% as massive as neutrons, while electrons are only about 0.054% as massive as neutrons. Now to multiply the mass of electron by 3. 0.054*3 = 0.162. Add this figure to 99.86. 99.86+0.162=100.02.

Here the mass is not exactly 100. The difference has some thing to do with the measurement of the spinning mass. I will like to explain this on the basis of simple experiment. You attach the balls of metal to the ends of the fan. The length of the blades of one fan are longer. The one with longer blade will strike harder. Here both the fans are rotating with the 'same' speed.

Now about the composition of the electron. Electron is also made up of three miniature magnets. The mass of the magnets is 1/1976 times less than that of proton. The miniature magnets are placed here in reverse direction to that are placed in case of the proton. So you have net negative charge outside. The speed of spin will be 1976 times more than that of proton and neutron. This has to be there to generate the equal and opposite electrical charge. This is compatible to the quantum theory.

Now to explain the instability of the neutron in the free state and stability in the nucleus.

In the free state of neutron, two electron and positron are liberated. This happens due to the centrifugal force. One electron and positron annihilate each other. As a result the single electron is expelled out. I prefer not to comment on the mass and effects of anti-neutrinos to avoid the lengthy discussion.

Now to explain the stability of the neutron in the nucleus. You have to do a simple experiment for this. Cut the pieces of paper like 'Y' shape. Write 'P' at the center of few such papers. These are protons. Write + sign at two ends and - sign at the third end. Then write 'N' at the center of others. Here you write two + and one - sign at the periphery. In addition you write - sign outside the + sign. Write + sign out side the - sign. These three denotes the two electrons and one positron. Now you have a model of proton with two positive charges out side and one negative charge outside. You have a model of neutron with two negative charges outside and one positive charge outside. Go on placing proton on the neuron with opposite charges. You have got the packed nucleus. Now the isotopes also can be explained very easily. You put that one neutron above the proton in deuterium and one below and one above in case of tritium. Here the distance is very less. So the force of gravity will be exceedingly high. Just try to put the figures of the masses and distance, in the formula of the force of gravity and see.

The explanation given above is my personal theory. It is not accepted by the science as on today. It is purely a guesswork.

Answer 6

Protons (and associated neutrons) in atomic nuclei are bound together by nuclear binding energy derived from a small portion of the masses of the bound particles.

Answer 7

Because the strong nuclear force keeps them together.

Answer 8

Between protons and neutrons exist the residual strong force (nuclear force).