Standard 1c Preknowledge
1c) Students know protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together by nuclear forces that overcome the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons.
CALIFORNIA FRAMEWORKS SUMMARY: The nucleus is held together by the strong nuclear force. The strong nuclear force acts between protons, between neutrons, and between protons and neutrons but has a limited range comparable to the size of an atomic nucleus. The nuclear force is able to overcome the mutual electrostatic repulsion of the protons only when the protons and neutrons are near each other as they are in the nucleus of an atom.