Strong nuclear force

The residual effect of the strong interaction that binds protons and neutrons inside atomic nuclei. It overcomes the electric repulsion between protons at distances of roughly a femtometer.

Quantum chromodynamics: The quantum field theory describing quarks, gluons, and their strong interaction. The nuclear force is a residual effect of this underlying interaction.
Proton: A positively charged baryon containing two up quarks and one down quark. Protons are nuclear constituents whose mutual electric repulsion the strong force must overcome.
Nuclear binding energy: The energy required to separate a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons. It quantifies the energy gained when the strong force binds nucleons into a nucleus.
Electromagnetic interaction: The fundamental interaction between electrically charged particles, mediated by photons. Its proton-proton repulsion competes with the short-range nuclear attraction.
Quark: An elementary particle that combines with other quarks to form hadrons such as protons and neutrons. Quarks are the constituents whose strong interactions produce nuclear binding.
Neutron: A neutral baryon containing one up quark and two down quarks. Neutrons contribute nuclear binding without adding electric repulsion between protons.
Nuclear fusion: A process in which light nuclei combine to form a more tightly bound nucleus. Fusion releases energy when the resulting nucleus has greater binding per nucleon.
Weak interaction: A fundamental interaction responsible for processes such as beta decay and neutrino interactions. Unlike the strong force, it can change quark flavor and drive many nuclear decays.
Gluon: A massless gauge boson that mediates the strong interaction between quarks. Gluon dynamics underlie the binding of quarks within each nucleon.
Nucleon: A proton or neutron, the two types of particles that make up atomic nuclei. The strong nuclear force acts chiefly between these nuclear constituents.

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