Rank the four forces by strength

Of the four fundamental forces, the strong nuclear force is…

Put two protons side by side in a nucleus. They have mass, charge, and quarks, and they are matter. So all four fundamental forces act between them at once. Which one wins?

Each profile gave one strength line. Collect the strength lines you already have, and they settle into a single order.

The strong force is the strongest of the four, so it takes first place.

The electromagnetic force is far stronger than gravity, and only the strong force beats it, so it takes second place.

The weak force is weaker than both of those, so it takes third place.

And gravity is by far the weakest, so it takes last place.

Between particles at subatomic distances, the order from strongest to weakest is: strong, electromagnetic, weak, gravitational.

The qualifier matters. This ranking compares the forces as they act between particles at subatomic distances, where all four get to compete.

The order can feel wrong, because in daily life gravity is the force you notice most. But you already know why. Gravity feels mighty only because planets are mighty. Force against force, between two particles, it comes last.

Two protons sit side by side in a nucleus. All four forces act between them. Which is the strongest?

The protons have mass, charge, and quarks, and they are matter particles, so all four forces act.

At subatomic distances, the strong force is the strongest of the four.

The strong force is the strongest between them, which is why the nucleus holds together.

Rank the gravitational force, the weak force, and the strong force from strongest to weakest at subatomic distances.

The strong force is the strongest of the four, so it leads this list too.

In the full ranking the weak force sits above only gravity, so here it takes second place.

Gravity is by far the weakest, so it comes last.

strong > weak > gravitational.

Quick-fire drill

Here are six fast comparisons. Every one asks about the forces between particles at subatomic distances.

At subatomic distances, which is stronger: the force that binds quarks, or the electromagnetic force?

At subatomic distances, which is stronger: the weak force or the gravitational force?

At subatomic distances, which is stronger: the weak force or the electromagnetic force?

Which fundamental force is the strongest at subatomic distances?

Which fundamental force is the weakest at subatomic distances?

At subatomic distances, which is stronger: the gravitational force or the electromagnetic force?

Your turn

Which list ranks the four fundamental forces from strongest to weakest, as they act between particles at subatomic distances?

All four fundamental forces act between two neighboring protons in a nucleus. Which is the strongest between them?

Two neutrinos pass close together, at subatomic distance. Of the forces acting between them, which is the strongest?