One of the four fundamental forces. The weak interaction which occurs is responsible for nuclear beta decay. The weak nuclear force is around 10^10 times weaker than the electromagnetic force.

Short-range force, weaker than both electromagnetism and the strong force, but much stronger than gravity, responsible for certain nuclear reactions and radioactive decays.

Basic nuclear force involved in radioactive decay. It is characterized by a slow nuclear reaction rate (for example, 17 minutes on the average for neutron decay into a proton, electron, and antineutrino) in comparison to the strong nuclear force, which reacts in a very short time (for example a neutron is ejected from a nucleus in 10-21 second).