Explain why there are four fundamental interactions in nature; strong, weak, gravitational, and electromagnetic.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Explain why? I think this belongs in Philosophy. I think the appropriate question is "why are the Laws of Physics the way they are?" Sorry I haven't actually answered but I'd be surprised if you get a definite answer.

anonymous · Answer

Yeah, not a really clear question...

Up until about 150 years ago or so, magnetic and electrical forces were thought to be completely separate forces.  Maxwell showed that they were really just two different manifestations of the same thing -- the electromagnetic force.  I believe that the weak interaction, the force that causes some form of radiation, has also been united with the electromagnetic force and is called the electroweak force.  The strong force, and gravitational force still have yet to undergo the same unification...

Consider this, why is there no such thing as "gravitational charge"?  The same mass that has to do with inertia, is also the same mass that has to gravity.  This lead to general relativity I believe.

Regarding the philosophical question as to why there are 4 fundamental forces.  I think it's because the universe would not have formed a stable system otherwise.  Essentially, they are that way because if they were not, you wouldn't be here to ask the question!