| This might be the cause for the force that must be overcome by the two nucleons or two atoms at the fusion reaction. |
| Photons can also be produced when nucleons in nuclei lose excess energy in a similar manner. |
| In this model, nuclei are pictured as loose aggregates of nucleons each of which, according to the quark model, has three quarks locked inside it. |
| This particular arrangement of nucleons is unstable and so tritium readily undergoes radioactive decay to yield a helium atom. |
| It is assumed that these forces provide a balance between nucleons with much smaller mass, the mesons. |
| It is a well verified fact that the more numerous nucleons are in any given atomic nucleus, the less massive each of them are. |
