Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watarts!bernie From: bernie@watarts.UUCP Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Re: opposites attract Message-ID: <1941@watarts.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Jul-83 11:33:53 EDT Article-I.D.: watarts.1941 Posted: Thu Jul 14 11:33:53 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 15-Jul-83 00:27:59 EDT References: tekmdp.2075 Lines: 9 The reason protons stay all bunched up together in the nucleus is that they are held together by a different (non-electromagnetic) force, which is more powerful over short distances than em, but that drops off more quickly than 1/r^2; the whole idea behind fusion is to bang protons together so hard and fast that they come close together before the EM forces push them apart. Once they're really close, the other force takes over and they stay that way (in the process giving up a *lot* of energy). --Bernie Roehl ...decvax!watmath!watarts!bernie