The Four Nature Forces

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�� The uncertainty relation in Heisenberg uncertainty principle (HUP)� between time and energy allows the existence of virtual particles serving as mediators of the four fundamental forces or interactions of nature (by descending strength):

1.� the strong interaction��

2. the electromagnetic interaction

3. the weak interaction

4. the gravitational interaction.����

�� Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is a theory of the interactions between charged particles and the electric field. For an electromagnetic interaction, the mediator is the photon. Charged particles like electrons interact by exchanging virtual photons. Whether it is an attraction or repulsion is determined by the numbers of exchanges and the wave function. This virtual photons cannot be seen or detected as they only exist within a very short time.�

�� The weak interaction is responsible for radioactivity decay, e.g. beta decay, explaining the conversion of a neutron into a proton, electron and antineutrino (the antiparticle of a particle called neutrino). Mediating particles are W⁺, W^- and Z^o . Particles interact through the weak force by exchanging the W and Z particles. Their existence was confirmed at CERN. To those familiar with modern chemistry, this weak force and I mean weak in its strength relatively, is also a reason why electrons in the s orbital particularly do not annihilate with protons in the nucleus of an atom. If there is, it's rare. One typical example of this phenomenon would be the atom of beryllium-7 (⁷Be) undergoing a radioactive decay called electron capture to form lithium-7 (⁷Li) by capturing one of its electron in its s orbital. This must be a good way of building up an atom since Big Bang and might be the only atomic structure that survived from evolution. If not, you wouldn't be here reading this and life is nowhere to be seen since electrons and the protons will be destroyed leaving an atomless world behind.

�� The strong interaction's mediator is a massless particle called gluon. Quarks are bind via strong force to create subatomic particles like proton and electron and is responsible for the binding of the neutrons and protons together in a nucleus of an atom. The force is explained theoretically in quantum chromodynamics (QCD).�

�� Difficulties arise when quantum physics tried to incorporate gravitational interaction into one of the fundamental forces as it needs a theory which does not contradict the gravitational interaction explained successfully in the theory of relativity. While theory of relativity views gravity as a curvature of space and time in the vicinity of massive objects, quantum theory of gravity postulated that gravitational field arises through the exchange of some hypothetical particles, called gravitons between massive objects. Whether we can search for this graviton in the lab is another difficulty. Reconciliation of both these incompatible modern area of physics led to an immense heat of discussion and debate with inputs of new theories, i.e. superstring theories and M-theory with predictions of new undiscovered dimnsions apart from the four current ones.�

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