It's also why archaeologists can use carbon-14 to date ancient bone, wood and other formerly living artifacts. The weak force is critical for the nuclear fusion reactions that power the sun and produce the energy needed for most life forms here on Earth. As a result, the subatomic particles decay into new particles, according to Georgia State University's HyperPhysics website. When subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons and electrons come within 10^-18 meters, or 0.1% of the diameter of a proton, of one another, they can exchange these bosons. In the weak force, the bosons are charged particles called W and Z bosons.

Specific kinds of bosons are responsible for three of the fundamental forces of nature - the weak force, electromagnetic force and strong force. Physicists describe this interaction through the exchange of force-carrying particles called bosons.

So, for example, a neutrino that strays close to a neutron can turn the neutron into a proton while the neutrino becomes an electron. This is the literal change of one type of subatomic particle into another. The weak force, also called the weak nuclear interaction, is responsible for particle decay. Fundamental forces of nature: The weak force

And at the molecular and atomic levels, gravity has almost no effect relative to the other fundamental forces. Think of it this way: How hard is it to lift a ball off the ground? Or to lift your foot? Or to jump? All of those actions are counteracting the gravity of the entire Earth. Though gravity holds planets, stars, solar systems and even galaxies together, it turns out to be the weakest of the fundamental forces of nature, especially at the molecular and atomic scales.

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