The strong and weak forces are two of the four fundamental forces in nature, along with gravity and electromagnetism. They act at different ranges, and here are their approximate ranges:
Strong Nuclear Force: The strong force is responsible for holding atomic nuclei together, overcoming the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged protons. It acts over extremely short distances within the atomic nucleus. The range of the strong force is typically considered to be around 1 femtometer (1 fm), which is equivalent to 10^(-15) meters.
Weak Nuclear Force: The weak force is involved in certain types of nuclear decay processes, such as beta decay, where a neutron transforms into a proton or vice versa, accompanied by the emission or absorption of particles called W and Z bosons. The weak force acts over a slightly longer range compared to the strong force. Its range is typically considered to be on the order of 10^(-18) meters, which is approximately 0.1 femtometers.
It's important to note that both the strong and weak forces are significantly shorter-ranged compared to gravity and electromagnetism. Gravity has an infinite range, acting over vast distances, while electromagnetism acts over macroscopic distances, including the range of atomic and molecular interactions.
These ranges are approximate values and provide a general idea of the scales over which the strong and weak forces operate. The precise behavior and interactions of these forces are described by the mathematical formalism of quantum field theory, specifically quantum chromodynamics (QCD) for the strong force and the electroweak theory for the weak force.