And does it hold protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. Can you please tell me what it specifically does, thanks in advance.

The strong force is what holds quarks together inside protons and neutrons. It is mediated by (virtual) gluons and is defined in terms of the "colour charge" of quarks and gluons.

A proportion of the strong force "leaks" out of protons and neutrons and acts to old those particles together in the neutron.

More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_interaction#Behavior_of_the_strong_force

Inside the proton or neutron are those quarks repelling each other or attracting each other.

Just now, Achilles said:

Inside the proton or neutron are those quarks repelling each other or attracting each other.

They form a bound system, so what do you think the answer is? Could you bind these together with repulsive forces?

Well I was thinking that there was possibility they were repelling each other but the strong nuclear force keep them together...

 

edit: and that the strong nuclear force is greater then the repulsive force between quarks if there was repulsion...

Edited August 15, 20187 yr by Achilles

There will be a repulsive force because they all have an electric charge, but this is much weaker than the strong force binding them together (hence the name!)

There is 3142 isotopes of 118 elements. Majority of them, significant majority, are unstable.

Free neutron is also unstable and decays with mean-life ~15 minutes.

 

Edited August 15, 20187 yr by Sensei