weak force
nounDefinition of weak force
: a fundamental physical force that governs interactions between hadrons and leptons (as in the emission and absorption of neutrinos) and is responsible for particle decay processes (such as beta decay) in radioactivity, that is 10-5 times the strength of the strong force, and that acts over distances smaller than those between nucleons in an atomic nucleus
— called also weak interaction, weak nuclear force
— compare electromagnetism sense 2a, gravity sense 3a(2), strong forceExamples of weak force in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this scenario, a WIMP would tap an atomic nucleus via the weak force. — Wired, "Dark Matter Hunters Are Looking Inside Rocks for New Clues," 13 Jan. 2019 In this scenario, a WIMP would tap an atomic nucleus via the weak force. — Rebecca Boyle, WIRED, "Dark Matter Hunters Are Looking Inside Rocks for New Clues," 13 Jan. 2019 In this scenario, a WIMP would tap an atomic nucleus via the weak force. — Rebecca Boyle, WIRED, "Dark Matter Hunters Are Looking Inside Rocks for New Clues," 13 Jan. 2019 In this scenario, a WIMP would tap an atomic nucleus via the weak force. — Rebecca Boyle, WIRED, "Dark Matter Hunters Are Looking Inside Rocks for New Clues," 13 Jan. 2019 Neutrinos eschew the strong and electromagnetic forces, maintaining only the most tenuous of ties to the rest of the universe through the weak force and gravity. — Quanta Magazine, "On a Hunt for a Ghost of a Particle," 8 Dec. 2016 In this scenario, a WIMP would tap an atomic nucleus via the weak force. — Quanta Magazine, "Why the Best Place to Find Dark Matter May Be in a Rock," 7 Jan. 2019 What will govern the economy if mass consumption becomes a weaker force? — Marilynne Robinson, Harper's magazine, "Is Poverty Necessary?," 10 June 2019 To the east, the Soviet Union is a much weaker force and still Germany’s ally. — Bartle Bull, WSJ, "‘Blood, Oil and the Axis’ Review: The Front That Was Left Behind," 9 May 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'weak force.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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