Editing Fundamental interaction (section)

{{Short description|Most basic type of physical force}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2022}}

In [[physics]], the '''fundamental interactions''' or '''fundamental forces''' are interactions in nature that appear not to be reducible to more basic interactions. There are four fundamental interactions known to exist:<ref>{{cite book |title=Particles and Fundamental Interactions: An Introduction to Particle Physics |edition=illustrated |first1=Sylvie |last1=Braibant |first2=Giorgio |last2=Giacomelli |first3=Maurizio |last3=Spurio |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2011 |isbn=9789400724631 |page=109 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Pp-f0G9_9sC}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=0Pp-f0G9_9sC&pg=PA109 Extract of page 109]</ref> 
* [[gravity]]
* [[electromagnetism]]
* [[weak interaction]]
* [[strong interaction]]
The gravitational and electromagnetic interactions produce long-range forces whose effects can be seen directly in everyday life. The strong and weak interactions produce forces at [[Subatomic scale|subatomic scales]] and govern nuclear interactions inside [[atom]]s. Some scientists hypothesize that a [[fifth force]] might exist, but these hypotheses remain speculative. 

Each of the known fundamental interactions can be described mathematically as a ''[[field (physics)|field]]''. The gravitational interaction is attributed to the [[curvature]] of [[spacetime]], described by [[Albert Einstein|Einstein's]] [[general theory of relativity]]. The other three are discrete [[quantum field theory|quantum fields]], and their interactions are mediated by [[elementary particle]]s described by the [[Standard Model]] of [[particle physics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/standard-model/|title=The Standard Model of Particle Physics {{!}} symmetry magazine|website=www.symmetrymagazine.org|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref>

Within the Standard Model, the strong interaction is carried by a particle called the [[gluon]] and is responsible for [[quark]]s binding together to form [[hadron]]s, such as [[proton]]s and [[neutron]]s.  As a residual effect, it creates the [[nuclear force]] that binds the latter particles to form [[atomic nucleus|atomic nuclei]]. The weak interaction is carried by particles called [[W and Z bosons]], and also acts on the nucleus of [[atom]]s, mediating [[radioactive decay]]. The electromagnetic force, carried by the [[photon]], creates [[electric field|electric]] and [[magnetic field]]s, which are responsible for the attraction between [[Atomic orbital|orbital]] [[electron]]s and atomic nuclei which holds atoms together, as well as [[chemical bonding]] and [[electromagnetic wave]]s, including [[visible light]], and forms the basis for electrical technology. Although the electromagnetic force is far stronger than gravity, it tends to cancel itself out within large objects, so over large (astronomical) distances gravity tends to be the dominant force, and is responsible for holding together the large scale structures in the universe, such as planets, stars, and galaxies.  The historical success of models that show relationships between fundamental interactions have led to efforts to go beyond the Standard Model and combine all four forces in to a [[theory of everything]].