how is this possible that more than one proton reside in the nucleus because both repel to each other?
Answers
The protons in nucleus do repel each other. However, besides repulsive Coulomb force between like charged protons, the nucleons also have a strong attractive nuclear force between the nucleons pairs. This strong attractive force is charge independent ie the force of attraction is the same between a pair of protons, or a pair of neutrons or a neutron proton pair. However, we must remember that these strong attractive nucleae forces have a very small range (~ 10^-15 m). So the attractive nuclear force exists only between the nearest nucleon pairs unlike repulsive Coulomb force which extends over all the proton pairs. So if we keep adding protons to the nucleus the Coulomb repulsive force overwhelms the nuclear attractive force and nucleus would be unstable. So as the atomic number increase, we need to add more and more neutrons to the nucleus to increase the seperation between the protons pairs, so as to decrease the effect of disruptive Coulomb force. In light nuclei, the ratio of neutrons to protons is 1, which steadily increases to 1.587 in case of uranium-238.
So it is the presence of neutrons which lends stability to the nucleus. From electrostatics we know that the potential energy of a charged sphere of radius r carrying a charge q = (3q²/5r). By adding neutrons to the nucleus we increase the nuclear radius ( in accordance with the relation R = R•×A⅓) without adding more charge, thereby decreasing the disruptive Coulomb energy and lending stability to the nucleus.
Answer:
Nuclear force
Explanation:
Two or more protons can reside in the nucleus, it is beacuse of nuclear force. Nuclear force is much more stronger than electrostatic force. Nuclear force doesn't depends upon charge or mass. The nuclear force between neutron-proton, neutron-neutron, proton-proton are same. But not electrostatics.
This force acts only in the nucleus of the atom and thus its called nuclear force. It has two parts--
- Strong Nuclear Force
- Weak Nuclear Force
And so, two protons can be reside in the nucleus.
