A pair of protons in an atomic nucleus repel each other, but they are also attracted to each other. Why?
A) The pair repel each other by nuclear force but attract one another by an electrical force.
B) The pair repel each other since they are both positively charges but they are held together by much stronger forces known as quarks.
C) The pair attract each other by nuclear force but also repel one another by a weaker electrical force.
D) Although it is known that protons repel each other at short distances because of like charge, it is not known what actually holds protons together in the nucleus because we have never seen the nucleus of an atom.
Question 2
Why is the combination of two protons and two neutrons stable, but two protons and one neutron is not?
A) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the electrical repulsion of the protons.
B) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the nuclear repulsion of the protons.
C) The nuclear attraction between protons is greater than that between neutrons.
D) The electrical repulsion between the two protons is greater in one case than the other.
E) none of the above