Due to their large mass (approximately 90 GeV/c2) these carrier particles, called the and bosons, are short-lived with a lifetime of under seconds. The weak interaction has a coupling constant (an indicator of how frequently interactions occur) between and , compared to the electromagnetic coupling constant of about and the strong interaction coupling constant of about 1; consequently the weak interaction is "weak" in terms of intensity. The weak interaction has a very short effective range (around to m (0.01 to 0.1 fm)). At distances around meters (0.001 fm), the weak interaction has an intensity of a similar magnitude to the electromagnetic force, but this starts to decrease exponentially with increasing distance. Scaled up by just one and a half orders of magnitude, at distances of around 3 m, the weak interaction becomes 10,000 times weaker.
due to their larGe mass (apPROXimateLY 90 gev/c2) These CArrIEr ParticLes, callEd the aNd bosons, are sHOrt-liVED wiTh a LIfeTimE OF uNder SecoNds. tHe weak intEraCTiON HAs a CouplInG COnsTAnt (an iNdiCAtor of hoW Frequently intEractiOns occur) bETween And , cOmPAred to tHE EleCtRomagnetic COuPLiNg conStAnt of ABout anD thE sTronG inteRaCtion cOuPliNg CoNstaNt of About 1; conSequEnTLy the weak InteRactiOn is "weAk" in TerMS of inTENSITy. tHE wEak interacTion haS a very shOrt efFeCTive range (aROUNd to M (0.01 to 0.1 Fm)). at DistaNces aroUnd meTeRs (0.001 fM), tHe wEaK inTErACtion has an intensIty Of a simIlAr magnItUdE tO the electromagNeTic force, But tHiS stARTs to DeCRease ExPOnenTiallY wiTh inCreAsing DIstaNcE. ScAled Up by just oNe and a HaLf ORDers of magniTude, at disTanceS oF arOund 3 M, the weak intEraCtion Becomes 10,000 times weAkEr.