weak nuclear force


weak nuclear force

n. The weak force responsible for the beta decay of radioactive nuclei.

weak nuclear force

(wēk) A force that causes subatomic particles within the nuclei of atoms to decay or break up into smaller particles and to give off energy as radiation. The weak nuclear force is one of the four basic forces in nature, being weaker than the strong nuclear force and the electromagnetic force but stronger than gravity. Also called weak interaction.