Question

Among the four forces, which has the shortest range?
A) Strong nuclear force
B) Electromagnetic force
C) Weak nuclear force
D) Gravitational force

Answer 1

Hint: The four options given in the statement are the four fundamental forces of nature. We will use the properties of these forces for each of the options to determine the force with the shortest range.

Complete step by step answer:
The forces mentioned in the options are the four fundamental forces of nature. They govern all the physical objects that we see around us and in the universe.
The weak nuclear is responsible for the radioactivity of compounds. The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances, and the range of this force is less than the diameter of a proton. However, it does not have the shortest range.
The gravitational force has a significant contribution in attracting objects that have mass to each other. It has an infinite long range. Hence it is not the correct choice.
The electromagnetic force, also called the Lorentz force, acts between charged particles, like negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. This force can be felt from an infinite distance though it is significantly weaker than the gravitational force.
The strong nuclear force, also called the strong nuclear interaction, is the strongest of the four fundamental forces of nature. The strong force is responsible for keeping together protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. Hence the range of the strong force is the smallest as if a proton or a neutron leaves the nucleus the strong force will not act on it.

So, the correct choice is option (A).

Note: We should know that the strong force is responsible for binding the nucleus of an atom which is the smallest cluster of particles we know. The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together while the weak nuclear force is responsible for the radioactive decay of those particles.