Question

What holds neutrons inside the nucleus?

Answer 1

The nucleus of an atom is held together by the strong nuclear force that binds together protons andneutrons. Although the strong nuclearforce is the strongest of the four fundamental forces, it acts only over very short - typically nuclear - distances. It binds together the protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Answer 2

The nuclear force is a residual effect of the more fundamental strong force, or strong interaction. The strong interaction is the attractive force that binds the elementary particles called quarks together to form the nucleons (protons and neutrons) themselves.