The residual strong force, also known as the strong nuclear force, is the fundamental force that binds protons and neutrons together within an atomic nucleus. It is responsible for overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion between positively charged protons.
The residual strong force is a short-range force that operates on the scale of the atomic nucleus. It is described by quantum chromodynamics (QCD), which is a theory in particle physics that explains the behavior of quarks and the strong interaction.
The strength of the residual strong force is typically represented by the strong coupling constant, denoted by αs. The value of αs depends on the energy scale at which it is measured, but at typical nuclear scales, it is approximately 0.12. The strong coupling constant is a dimensionless quantity and does not have a unit like Newtons.
It's important to note that while the residual strong force is responsible for binding protons together, it is not directly expressed in terms of a force like Newtons. Instead, the strong force is described by the exchange of particles called gluons, which mediate the interaction between quarks within protons and neutrons.