fifth force
English
[edit]
Noun
[edit]fifth force (plural fifth forces)
- (physics) A hypothetical fundamental force, distinct from gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong force and weak force, proposed to explain various anomalous observations that do not fit existing theories.
- 1989, John Boslough, “Searching for the Secrets of Gravity”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 569:
- According to Ephraim Fischbach's 1986 theory, the more tightly packed these particles are, the more strongly the atom feels the repulsive effect of the fifth force.
- 2023 August 11, Nicola Davis, “Scientists may be on brink of discovering fifth force of nature”, in The Guardian[1]:
- The tantalising theory that a fifth force of nature could exist has been given a boost thanks to unexpected wobbling by a subatomic particle, physicists have revealed. […] Dr Mitesh Patel, from Imperial College London, said: “We’re talking about a fifth force because we can’t necessarily explain the behaviour [in these experiments] with the four we know about.”