system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Since protons have mass would 2 protons try to go towards each other, but then repel at a certain (closer) distance because they are both positive?

When exactly does the *repel* happen, and at what distance?
gpt
Because of gravity, you mean?

The gravitational force between two protons at a distance r is F*_g_* = Gm*_p_*^(2)/r^(2).

The electrostatic force between them is F*_e_* = ke^(2)/r^(2).

The ratio of these two forces at any distance is F*_e_*/F*_g_* = ke^(2)/Gm*_p_*^(2) ~ 10^(36). Note that this is a constant, independent of the distance between the protons.

So gravity is totally irrelevant compared to the electrostatic force. There is never a distance where gravity even comes close to overpowering the electric repulsion between them.