What are the universal forces? There are four fundamental forces
(also known as universal forces). They are the strong nuclear,
electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and gravitational forces. Each
force has a force carrying particle: the gluon (strong nuclear),
the photon (electromagnetic), the boson (weak nuclear), and the
The strong nuclear force holds quarks together to form protons
and neutrons. The electromagnetic force holds electrons in orbit
around an atom's nucleus and also gives matter its rigidity. The
weak nuclear force is responsible for emission of beta particles
in radioactive decay. The gravitational force also holds matter
together, but it is so weak that its effect is only noticible
when large masses are involved (e.g., the Earth's gravity
holding you on the ground). Physicists are trying to unify all
the forces into one. James Maxwell unified the electrical and
magnetic forces into the electromagnetic force. Actually, the
electromagnetic and the weak forces have been unified into what
is called th