Question

Inside a nucleus, the nuclear forces between proton and proton, proton and neutron, neutron and neutron are \( F_{pp} \), \( F_{pn} \), and \( F_{nn} \) respectively. Then:

• A. \( F_{pp}>F_{pn}>F_{nn} \)
• B. \( F_{pn}>F_{nn}>F_{pp} \)
• C. \( F_{nn}>F_{pp}>F_{pn} \)
• D. \( F_{pp} = F_{pn} = F_{nn} \)

Hint:

Nuclear force is nearly the same between any two nucleons (proton or neutron) — it's charge-independent and depends only on separation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

A short-range, charge-independent force, the nuclear force, is characterized by its dependence solely on the distance between nucleons, irrespective of their charge. Consequently, the strength of the nuclear force between two protons (\( F_{pp} \)), a proton and a neutron (\( F_{pn} \)), and two neutrons (\( F_{nn} \)) is roughly equivalent at close distances within the nucleus. This leads to the equation: \[ F_{pp} = F_{pn} = F_{nn} \]