The fundamental unit of matter is the particle known as an atom. Atoms are made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge (they are neutral), and electrons have a negative charge.
Atoms interact with other particles through several fundamental forces. The four fundamental forces are:
Electromagnetic Force: This force is responsible for interactions between charged particles, such as electrons and protons. It is responsible for holding electrons in orbit around the nucleus of an atom, forming stable atomic structures. Electromagnetic force also governs interactions between atoms, molecules, and larger objects.
Gravitational Force: This force is responsible for the attraction between two objects with mass. It is the force that gives weight to objects and holds planets in orbit around the sun. While gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental forces, it acts on large scales and is responsible for the overall structure of the universe.
Weak Nuclear Force: This force is responsible for certain types of radioactive decays, such as beta decay. It governs interactions between elementary particles, including quarks and leptons, and is involved in processes that change one type of particle into another.
Strong Nuclear Force: This force holds the nucleus of an atom together. It is responsible for binding protons and neutrons within the atomic nucleus. The strong nuclear force is the strongest of the fundamental forces but acts only over extremely short distances.
These fundamental forces govern the interactions between particles, enabling the formation of atoms, molecules, and the intricate structures found in the universe.