Why does the nucleus need nuclear force?

Answer 1

The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and neutrons. (Only hydrogen-1 is the exception.) The protons all carry a positive charge, and we know from electrostatics that like charges repel. How can protons be bound in an atomic nucleus? Something must overcome the electrostatic or coulomb forces that want to push the protons apart. That force is binding energy or nuclear glue. Binding energy or nuclear glue, sometimes called the residual strong interaction, is what overcomes the coulomb forces, as stated. This binding energy is created during atomic fusion, and each nucleon involved in the fusion process contributes some of its mass to create the binding energy. This is called mass deficit, and neutrons are essential in the fusion process. The protons and neutrons (neucleons) involved in any fusion reaction all contribute some mass to the creation of the "appropriate amount" of binding energy necessary to hold the whole new nucleus together. Protons alone cannot be fused.

Answer 2

It is not quite correct to say that neutrons are the glue that holds an atomic nucleus together. Use the link below to the related question to see what actually holds an atomic nucleus together.

Answer 3

to help the charge in it so it can be an atom. its like a mixture, say sodium chloride.

without the sodium, it would just be chloride. and why would we want to eat chloride?

Good example, but in better terms, electrons are used to balance out the electrical charge of atoms, an electron is described as a minus one, -1, while a Proton, the opposite of an electron, is plus one, +1, without balancing of these electrical charges, an atom an it's element becomes 'unstable' where it starts to release protons and electrons to try to balance itself out, these are nuclear particles, but that's another subject...

Answer 4

neutrons exist to balance out the protons in the nucleus. the two combined make the nucleus neutral.

Answer 5

The nucleus needs nuclear force to hold together the positively charged protons. Because they have the same charge, they naturally repel apart.