I have heard many people mention that heisenberg uncertainity prinicple doesn't really allow 'violation of energy conservaiton for a short time'. i.e, virtual particles, are just a mathematical tool. If so, how are the ranges of fundamental forces explained?. Electro-magnetic field is long range, as its force carrier is a ,mass less photon. Weak force is short range because its force carrier has mass, and can exist only for a little duration in accordance with HUP. So if "borrowing energy for a short while", interpretation is wrong. then how are the ranges of fundemental forces explained