Hydrogen molecules, again! (ref)
Our teacher patiently continues explaining the basics to us:
The electromagnetic interaction is also responsible for holding molecules together.
Although molecules are neutral, there is a residual of the electromagnetic interaction, called van der Waal's interaction, that holds them weakly together.
Take hydrogen molecules, for example.
- The electric charge around the atoms in the molecules is polarised - the electrons are pushed apart by electromagnetic repulsion towards the extremities leaving a positive field near the middle.
- The molecules are held together by attraction between the negative extremity of one molecule's field and the positive middle of the other's. This is due to a polarization of the electric charge around the atoms in the molecule.
For example, in the hydrogen molecule, the electrons are pushed apart by electromagnetic repulsion towards the extremities, leaving a positive field near the middle.
The weak and strong interactions differ from the other two in one very important way: they only act over very short distances and are confined to the scale of atomic nuclei.
The weak and strong interactions differ from the other two in one very important way: they only act over very short distances and are confined to the scale of atomic nuclei.
Heavenly weakling!
The weak interaction is responsible for radioactive beta decay, and it plays a vital role in the energy generating processes of stars, including our Sun.
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