Sklifosovsky20 OP t1_iu5l2jp wrote on October 28, 2022 at 6:41 PM

Reply to comment by Yancy_Farnesworth in ELI5: Does a nuclear explosion make other atoms radioactive or simply contaminates it? by Sklifosovsky20

Why would a neutron get stuck in the nucleus instead of bouncing off?

SchiferlED t1_iu6cjvs wrote on October 28, 2022 at 9:53 PM

Neutrons don't have an electric charge, so they are not repelled by the negative electrons around the atom, or the positive protons in the nucleus. The strong nuclear force (which is much stronger than other forces, hence the name) holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, and keeps the new neutron there instead of it "bouncing" off.