Fundamental forces are the fundamental interactions that govern how particles and objects interact with each other in the universe. There are four known fundamental forces in physics:
Gravity: This force is the most familiar and acts over long distances. It’s responsible for the attraction between masses and governs the motion of celestial bodies, from planets to galaxies. Gravity is described by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Electromagnetic Force: This force encompasses both electric and magnetic interactions. It’s responsible for the attraction and repulsion of charged particles and is described by classical electromagnetism and quantum electrodynamics (QED).
Weak Nuclear Force: This force is involved in certain types of radioactive decay and interactions between elementary particles. It’s responsible for processes like beta decay and is crucial in understanding the behavior of subatomic particles. The weak force is unified with the electromagnetic force in the electroweak theory.
Strong Nuclear Force: This force holds atomic nuclei together by binding protons and neutrons. It’s the strongest force at extremely small distances within the nucleus and is mediated by particles called gluons. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) describes the strong force.
