Question

Is the atomic nucleus always on the verge of splitting apart because the protons and neutrons naturally repel each other?

Answer 1

Protons have a positive charge and neutrons have no charge so they do not repel one another. Any atom besides hydrogen has more than one proton in the nucleus and they do want to split apart due to the Coulomb force (electromagnetic force). So why do they stay together? There is another force that is much stronger than the Coulomb force at work. It is called the strong nuclear force. So why doesn't everything stick together due to this force? It's because it acts over a much shorter distance. When two protons are brought together they repel each other. Much energy must be put into them in order to get them close enough for the strong force to take effect. Once it does they lock together. This energy is called binding energy and it is the source of nuclear power. If you can get the protons far enough apart (by wobbling the nucleus for example) then, because the strong force becomes weaker much faster than the Coulomb force with distance, the repulsion will become the dominant force and the nucleus will fly apart, due to the repulsion.

Answer 2

Thank you!