Question

The four fundamental forces are arranged in the increasing order of their relative strength.

Answer 1

Answer:

Both weak interaction and strong interaction act only between non-atomic particles.

Explanation:

Arrange the four fundamental forces in increasing strength:

• Gravity,
• "Weak" interaction,
• Electromagnetic interaction, and
• Strong interaction.

Thus, this question is about the strong and weak interactions. In particular, the choices are concerned about properties common to both types of interactions.

• The ranges of electromagnetic interaction and gravity are infinite. However, the ranges of strong and weak interactions are much smaller. The maximum range of weak interactions is around $\rm 10^{-16}\; m$. The maximum range of strong interactions is around $\rm 10^{-15}\;m$.

• Weak interaction occurs between left-hand fermions. This class of particles includes neutrinos, which do not carry any charge. The most energetic strong interactions occur between quarks, which are all charged. Some of the weaker residual strong interactions occur between particles that are made of quarks. That includes both protons and neutrons (which do not carry any charge.) This type of strong interaction holds nuclei intact.

Consider the choices:

• The range of neither weak nor strong interactions is infinite. This range is smaller than the radius of atomic nuclei.
• Strong and weak interactions indeed act between charged particles. However, there are exceptions such as neutrinos and neutrons.
• The ranges of strong and weak interactions are so small that they are nearly undetectable outside of atomic nuclei. Both interactions act only between non-atomic particles such as protons and neutrons as well as electrons and quarks.
• Atoms are too large to experience weak and strong interactions.