Which of the following is correct for the nuclear force between two nucleons?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → there is no simple mathematical form
Option (1) the force varies inversely as the square of the distance — Incorrect. The inverse-square law holds for the Coulomb and gravitational forces. The nuclear force falls to zero much faster, within a few femtometres.
Option (2) the force varies inversely as the cube of the distance — Incorrect. No single power of distance describes the nuclear force. It is attractive at some separations and repulsive at very small ones.
Option (3) the force is proportional to the product of the charges — Incorrect. The nuclear force does not depend on electric charge. It acts in the same way between two neutrons, which have no charge.
Option (4) there is no simple mathematical form — Correct. Coulomb’s law and Newton’s law of gravitation each have a simple formula. The nuclear force has no such formula.
NCERT (2026-27):
Nuclear Force – “Unlike Coulomb’s law or the Newton’s law of gravitation there is no simple mathematical form of the nuclear force.”