Force Graphs

Neutron-Neutron or Neutron-Proton

Here is the graph of how the force varies between two neutrons or a proton and a neutron as the distance between them is increased.

We can see that the force is very strongly repulsive at separations of less than 0.7 fm ( x 10^–15 m). This prevents all the nucleons from crushing into each other.

Above this separation the force is strongly attractive with a peak around 1.3 fm. When the nucleons are separated by more than 5 fm they no longer experience the SNF.

Proton-Proton

The force-separation graphs for two protons is different. They both attract each other due to the SNF but they also repel each other due to the electromagnetic force which causes two like charges to repel.

Graph A Graph B Graph C

Graph A shows how the strong nuclear force varies with the separation of the protons

Graph B shows how the electromagnetic force varies with the separation of the protons

Graph C shows the resultant of these two forces: repulsive at separations less than 0.7 fm, attractive up to 2 fm when the force becomes repulsive again.