The question discussed in this Exam talkback is about the electric field near protons. This may be an unfamiliar context, but it is an application of resolving forces that leads to an interesting way of thinking about the forces on particles in a nucleus.
When approaching a long question with several parts, it is always important to read through it all before starting on your answer. The final parts of the question will often show you where the question is leading you. In this case, it is not just about a rather simplified situation of two protons at a given distance apart. The ‘pay off’ at the end of the question is a more interesting calculation about the forces on a proton in a lithium nucleus, showing that another type of force is needed to keep the protons close together. This is the strong nuclear force.
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