An example of extended metaphor in science journalism:
"At the core of nuclear physics lies a tug of war between two of the four fundamental forces: on one side, the strong nuclear force acts to hold the nucleus together by binding the protons to the neutrons; on the other, electromagnetism acts to blow it apart by repelling the positively charged protons. The strong nuclear force is the strongest force in nature, and in the lighter, smaller nuclei it easily wins out, making nuclear fusion of these elements highly exothermic.
The strongest of the forces it may be, but the strong nuclear force only acts over very short distances. The range of the electromagnetic force is infinite, however, despite its strength decaying with distance. As nuclei get larger, therefore, the battle between the two gets more even, and eventually electromagnetism begins to win."
Chemistry World
Tim Wogan (2022) How elements are made beyond the stars, Chemistry World
The phrasing here (strong nuclear force winning out over electromagnetism) could potentally reinforce the common misconception that stable systems form when one force exceeds another, rather than when there is a balance betwen forces leading to an equilibrium.
[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index
