What is the difference between strong and weak force?

What is the difference between weak force and electromagnetic force, when referring to atoms?

• Ok I have read and seen some documentaries where I read in an atom the force that keeps it together even tough they are same charge (all the protons very tightly joined on the nucleus)is the strong force but that it is only strong in short ranges reason why if an atom is too big (like uranium) it will decay; said this the issue is this, also i heard that another force is acting in the atom, the electromagnetic force which temps to rip it off but since strong force is stronger (as the name says) it does not happen but because it's strength is only Good in short ranges the electromagnetic force begins to win as the atom turns bigger and this is what causes subatomic particles to release out of the atom as radiation or the whole atom splits. For me this makes a lot of sense but also their is a called weak force which by definition is the force that is responsible for radioactive decay so i kind of confuse me if whether it is because of the fact particles equally charged are released because of electromagnetic force or weak force is the release of those articles just because yes (which would make less sense to me)

• Answer:

  You are absolutely right about the forces, let me explain why electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces are different. That would clear up your confusion, strong force = force that holds the nucleons (protons and neutrons) together...short range...it takes place by an exchange of mesons. weak force = same as strong forces but WEAK. They hold the nucleons and electrons loosely and hence causes radioactive decay. (by beta emission / emission of electrons, etc)...also short range..occurs by an exchange of bosons electromagnetic force on the other hand is opposite in action to both strong and weak forces. It tries to break it down (whereas those two forces held the atomic particles (p, e, n) together). It has long range , and it acts by exchange of photons. please check http://aether.lbl.gov/elements/stellar/strong/strong.html to clear your concept further. :)