The Strong Interaction

The strong nuclear force acts between quarks. Since Hadrons are the only particles made of quarks only they experience the strong nuclear force.

In both Baryons and Mesons the quarks are attracted to each other by exchanging virtual particles called ‘gluons’.

On a larger scale the strong nuclear force acts between the Hadrons themselves, keeping them together. A pi-meson or pion (π) is exchanged between the hadrons. This is called the residual strong nuclear force.