Question

Which force operates among the heavier elementary particles?

Answer 1

To understand what force operates between the heavier elementary particles, we will first understand the heavier elementary particles and their characteristics and the different types of elementary particles that exist. Only then would we be able to answer our question.

Complete step by step answer:
An elementary particle in Particle Physics can be described as the fundamental particle which cannot be further split into its substitutes. This means this particle is the basis of all the other particles formed in nature.
In post-medieval times, when atoms were being discovered, atoms were suggested to be the elementary particles of nature. But as science advanced, the elementary particles changed and protons, electrons and neutrons were now said to be the elementary particles. But, this wasn’t the end of it. According to modern science observation in Particle Physics, the most fundamental particles are finally found to be “Quarks”. These are said to constitute even the nucleons.
Now, there are six different types of quarks. These are: up, down, charm, strange, top and bottom. Out of the six different types of quarks, up and down quarks have the lowest mass. The heavier quarks interact among themselves by the strong nuclear forces. This is the interaction force that brings these particles together to form nucleons.
Hence, the force that operates among the heavier elementary particles is the strong nuclear force.

Note: The heavier elementary particles are relatively less stable than the lighter elementary particles, that is, the up and down quarks. So, the heavier particles rapidly transform into up and down quarks through a process of particle decay, that is, the transformation from a greater state of mass to a lower state of mass.