Question

Which of the following statements is wrong:
A) Strong nuclear forces are the strongest forces
B) Nuclear forces are very short range forces
C) Nuclear force increases when the number of nucleons is increased
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Nuclear forces are the forces responsible for binding protons and neutrons (“nucleons”) together into atomic nuclei. These forces act only for a few femtometer $ 1 fm = 10^{-15}$, beyond which it decreases rapidly hence its effect is merely felt . It is one of the basic fundamental forces in nature.

Complete step by step solution:
Nuclear forces hold together the subatomic particles of the nucleus (protons, which carry a positive charge, and neutrons, which carry no charge. These particles are collectively called nucleons). The Nuclear forces are the basic forces that bind these subatomic particles to form a larger particle hence it is 6 thousand trillion trillion trillion (that’s 39 zeroes after 6!) times stronger than the force of gravity, according to the HyperPhysics website. Therefore Nuclear forces are considered as the strongest forces comparatively to other fundamental forces.

Hence option (A) is a correct statement.

In spite of its enormous strength, we do not feel anything of this force on the atomic scale or in everyday life as the nuclear forces are only active till a range of few femtometer therefore Nuclear forces are very short range forces.

Hence option (B) is a correct statement.

Nuclear binding energy is the minimum energy that keeps protons and neutrons intact together inside the nucleus . As the number of nucleons increases the binding energy per nucleon increases too so does the forces between the subatomic particles . Therefore nuclear forces increase when the number of nucleons is increased.

Hence option (D) is a correct statement.

Thus the correct option for the above question is (D) as there are no incorrect statements in the available options.

Note: Nuclear forces are short range attraction forces and the Meson theory of nuclear forces has indepthly discussed the properties of nuclear forces. The nuclear force plays an essential role in storing energy that is used in nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Work (energy) is required to bring charged protons together against their electric repulsion. This energy is stored when the protons and neutrons are bound together by the nuclear force to form a nucleus. The mass of a nucleus is less than the sum total of the individual masses of the protons and neutrons.