Consider the following forces:
- I. Electromagnetic force
- II. Nuclear force
- III. Gravitational force
Arrange the above forces in increasing order of their strength.
- AII, I, III
- BIII, II, I
- CI, III, II
- DIII, I, II
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (d) III, I, II
Explanation
The relative strengths of the fundamental forces, taking the strong nuclear force as 1, are roughly:
- gravitational force: about 10⁻³⁹ (the weakest, though it acts over any distance);
- electromagnetic force: about 10⁻²;
- nuclear (strong) force: 1 (the strongest, but it acts only within a nucleus).
So the increasing order is gravitational (III) < electromagnetic (I) < nuclear (II). The weak nuclear force, not listed here, lies between gravity and electromagnetism.