The strong nuclear force has which of the following PROPERTIES?
AIt is a long-range force, extending to atomic distances
BIt is attractive at all separations and depends only on charge
CIt is a short-range force (≲ 10⁻¹⁵ m) and is CHARGE-INDEPENDENT
DIt is purely repulsive between nucleons
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It is a short-range force (≲ 10⁻¹⁵ m) and is CHARGE-INDEPENDENT
1. NCERT §13.5 lists the key properties of the strong nuclear force.
2. SHORT-RANGE: the force becomes significant only when nucleons are within about 1 fm ($10^{-15}\,\text{m}$); beyond a few fm it is essentially zero.
3. CHARGE-INDEPENDENT: the force between a p-p, p-n, or n-n pair is the same at the same separation; it acts on the nucleon regardless of electric charge.
4. MUCH STRONGER than the electromagnetic force at nucleonic distances — this is why the nucleus holds together against the proton-proton Coulomb repulsion.
5. Option A confuses it with gravity/electromagnetism. Option B is wrong on charge-dependence. Option D ignores that the strong force is attractive at the relevant scales (it becomes repulsive only at extremely short ranges, $< 0.4\,\text{fm}$, but that's not the dominant behaviour).
_Source: NCERT Class 12 Physics Part 2, Ch 13, §13.5 (Nuclear Force), p. 7–8._
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