Why is weak force important?

1 Answer
May 27, 2016

The weak force is important because it is responsible for radioactive beta decay.

Explanation:

The weak force is responsible for beta decay where a proton is turned into a neutron or a neutron is turned into a proton.
#p rarr n + e^+ + nu#
#n rarr p + e^(-) + bar nu#
This is very important for the proton proton fusion reaction which takes place in the sun. The first stage is that two protons get bound together by the strong force to create a bi-proton. This is unstable as the protons repel each other. Some bi-protons undergo beta plus decay where one proton is converted into a neutron by the weak force which turns the bi-proton into deuterium.

The weak force is also responsible for creating other elements.