I read that the strong nuclear force is effective between
-protons and protons
-protons and neutrons and
-neutrons and neutrons
So why aren't there nucleii made entirely of neutrons, or just two neutrons by themselves? There is no electrostatic forces holding them apart, so the strong force should easily hold them together. My physics teacher thinks the weak force might be responsible for stopping them from 'bonding' but I don't know exactly what the weak force is and it's not explained in the syllabus very well. Can someone tell me why neutron-neutron 'particles' form and whether the weak force is responsible?
-protons and protons
-protons and neutrons and
-neutrons and neutrons
So why aren't there nucleii made entirely of neutrons, or just two neutrons by themselves? There is no electrostatic forces holding them apart, so the strong force should easily hold them together. My physics teacher thinks the weak force might be responsible for stopping them from 'bonding' but I don't know exactly what the weak force is and it's not explained in the syllabus very well. Can someone tell me why neutron-neutron 'particles' form and whether the weak force is responsible?