1. Strong Nuclear Force: This force is responsible for holding the protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom. It's the strongest force but has the shortest range, effectively acting only within the nucleus.
2. Weak Nuclear Force: This force is responsible for radioactive decay, such as beta decay. It's weaker than the strong force and has a shorter range, operating at the level of subatomic particles.
3. Electromagnetic Force: This force governs the interactions between charged particles. It's responsible for everything from light and electricity to chemical bonds. The electromagnetic force has a long range, extending theoretically to infinity, but weakens rapidly with distance.
4. Gravitational Force: This force is responsible for the attraction between any two objects with mass. It's the weakest of the four fundamental forces but has an infinite range. Gravity is what holds planets in orbit around stars and governs the large-scale structure of the universe.
In Summary:
* Strongest to Weakest: Strong > Weak > Electromagnetic > Gravitational
* Shortest to Longest Range: Strong > Weak > Electromagnetic > Gravitational
