5. Fundamental (Interactions) Forces

In physics, the fundamental forces, also known as the fundamental interactions, are the interactions that do not appear to be reducible to more simple basic interactions. There are four fundamental forces or interactions known to be exists in the universe and they are:

>> Gravitational Force

>> Electromagnetic Force

>> Strong Binding Force

>> Weak Nuclear Force

The gravitational force and the electromagnetic interactions are produce significant long-range forces whose effects can be seen directly in everyday life; whereas the strong binding force and the weak nuclear force are the forces at minuscule, subatomic distances and govern nuclear interactions. Each of the known fundamental interactions can be described mathematically as a field. The gravitational force is attributed to the curvature of space-time, described by Einstein's general theory of relativity. The other three are discrete quantum fields, and their interactions are mediated by elementary particles described by the Standard Model of particle physics.

Within the Standard Model, the strong interaction is carried by a particle called the gluon and is responsible for quarks binding together to form hadrons such as protons and neutrons. As a residual effect, it creates the nuclear force that binds the latter particles to form atomic nuclei. While the weak interaction is carried by particles called W and Z bosons, also acts on the nucleus of atoms, mediating radioactive decay.

Whereas, the electromagnetic force, carried by the photon, creates electric and magnetic fields, which are responsible for the attraction between orbital electrons and atomic nuclei which hold atoms together as well as chemical bonding and electromagnetic waves including visible light and also forms the basis for electrical technology. However the electromagnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force, it tends to cancel itself out within the large objects over a large distances on the scale of planets and galaxies, the gravity tends to be more dominant force than the others.

 

It is thought by many scientists that the three forces; the electromagnetic force, the strong force and the weak force; become a single force under very high temperatures. This idea is known as the Grand Unification Theory.