How does weak force cause decay?

1 Answer
Mar 1, 2016

The process is a somewhat complex, but briefly described below.

Explanation:

The weak force is one of the four fundamental forces that govern all matter in the universe. While the other forces hold things together, the weak force plays a greater role in things falling apart, or decaying. Enrico Fermi defined this new type of force, whose fundamental process was transforming a neutron into a proton, an electron and a neutrino called beta decay. While weak nuclear forces are capable of transforming neutrons into protons and vice-versa, other fundamental forces are not capable of this transformation.