Q. Which of the following fundamental forces of nature is responsible for the conversion of a neutron into a proton, an electron and an anti-neutrino? Answer:
Weak Nuclear force
Notes:
The gravitational force is a weak and is always attractive in nature. It acts between any two pieces of matter in the Universe since mass is its source.
The weak force is responsible for radioactive decay and neutrino interactions. It causes Beta-decay ie. the conversion of a neutron into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino.
The electromagnetic force causes electric and magnetic effects such as the repulsion between like electrical charges or the interaction of bar magnets. It can be attractive or repulsive and acts only between pieces of matter carrying an electrical charge. Electricity, magnetism, and light are all produced by this force.
Strong Nuclear Force is responsible for holding the nuclei of atoms together. It is basically attractive but can be effectively repulsive in some circumstances. The strong force is ‘carried’ by particles called gluons; that is, when two particles interact through the strong force, they do so by exchanging gluons. Thus, the quarks inside of the protons and neutrons are bound together by the exchange of the strong nuclear force.