RADIOACTIVITY RESULTS FROM AN IMBALANCE OF FORCES IN THE NUCLEUS

The more protons there are in a nucleus, the more neutrons are needed to help balance the repulsive electric forces. For light elements, it is sufficient to have about as many neutrons as protons. The most common isotope of carbon, carbon-12, for instance, has six protons and six neutrons. For large nuclei, more neutrons than protons are required. Remember that the strong nuclear force diminishes rapidly with increasing distance between nucleons. Nucleons must be practically touching in order for the strong nuclear force to be effective. Nucleons on opposite sides of a large atomic nucleus are not as attracted to one another. The electric force, however, does not diminish by much across the 

Two protons in an atomic nucleus repel each other, but they are also attracted to each other. Explain. 

Was this yow answer Two protons in a nucleus repel each other by the electric force, true, but they also attract each other by the strong nuclear force. Both forces act simultaneously. So long as the attractive strong nuclear force is more influential than the repulsive electric force, the protons remain together. Under conditions where the electric force overcomes the strong nuclear force, the protons fly apart. 

All nucleons, both protons and neutrons, attract one another by the strong nuclear force. 

Only protons repel one another by the electric force. 

---

Radioactivity Results from an Imbalance of Forces in the Nucleus... 

RADIOACTIVITY RESULTS FROM AN IMBALANCE OF FORCES IN THE NUCLEUS... 

---