Which of the following particles is attracted to the nucleus due to the strong nuclear force?

The strong nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature and is responsible for holding the protons and neutrons together within an atomic nucleus. It operates at very short ranges and is significantly stronger than the electromagnetic force that would otherwise cause the positively charged protons to repel each other.

Within the nucleus, protons and neutrons are collectively known as nucleons. The strong nuclear force acts between all nucleons, providing the necessary attraction that overcomes the repulsive forces between protons. This is essential for the stability of the nucleus; without the strong nuclear force, atomic nuclei would not be able to exist due to the electrostatic repulsion between protons.

While both protons and neutrons are influenced by this force, electrons are not attracted to the nucleus by the strong nuclear force; they are instead influenced by the electromagnetic force, which is due to their opposite charge with respect to protons.

Thus, protons and neutrons are both attracted to the nucleus through the strong nuclear force, making the correct answer encompass both types of particles.