In physics, the effect of any of the four fundamental forces
gravitational, electromagnetic, strong, and weak.
All known natural forces can be traced to these fundamental interactions. mass ; it causes objects to fall to the ground and maintains the orbits of planets around the Sun. Electromagnetic force is responsible for the attraction and repulsion between {{link=electric charge">electric charge s and explains the chemical behaviour of atom s and the properties of light . The strong force binds quark s together in proton s, neutron s, and other hadron s and also holds the protons and neutrons of an atomic nucleus together, overcoming the repulsion of the positively charged protons for each other. The weak force is observed in certain forms of radioactive decay (see radioactivity ) and in reactions that fuel the Sun and other stars.