weak force
noun
: 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
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In the early years of the war, with the Allies retreating in multiple theaters, the first priority was defense, making weak forces look strong to dissuade the enemy from attacking.
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Robert Hutton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
Their efforts have led to the Standard Model of particle physics, which describes the most fundamental ingredients of matter (leptons and quarks) and the forces that control them (the electromagnetic, strong and weak forces).
—Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2023
The neutral charge is important because gravity is a weak force.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2023
Gravity is such a weak force that even the best experiments already have a lot of jiggle in them.
—Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 10 July 2023
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Robert Hutton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
Their efforts have led to the Standard Model of particle physics, which describes the most fundamental ingredients of matter (leptons and quarks) and the forces that control them (the electromagnetic, strong and weak forces).
—Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2023
The neutral charge is important because gravity is a weak force.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2023
Gravity is such a weak force that even the best experiments already have a lot of jiggle in them.
—Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 10 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for weak force
Dictionary Entries Near weak force
Cite this Entry
“Weak force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weak%20force. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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