If the distance between two point charges is tripled, how does the electrostatic force between them change? (2020)
Practice Questions
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Q1
If the distance between two point charges is tripled, how does the electrostatic force between them change? (2020)
It triples
It halves
It becomes one-ninth
It remains the same
According to Coulomb's law, the force F is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (F ∝ 1/r^2). If r is tripled, F becomes 1/9 of its original value.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: If the distance between two point charges is tripled, how does the electrostatic force between them change? (2020)
Solution: According to Coulomb's law, the force F is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (F ∝ 1/r^2). If r is tripled, F becomes 1/9 of its original value.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that we are dealing with two point charges and the force between them.
Step 2: Recall Coulomb's law, which states that the electrostatic force (F) between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them.
Step 3: Write down the relationship: F ∝ 1/r^2.
Step 4: If the distance (r) is tripled, we can express this as r = 3r_original.
Step 5: Substitute this into the formula: F_new ∝ 1/(3r_original)^2.
Step 6: Simplify the equation: F_new ∝ 1/(9 * r_original^2).
Step 7: This means that the new force (F_new) is 1/9 of the original force (F_original).
