If the distance between two charges is doubled, how does the force between them change?
Correct Answer: Force reduces to one-fourth.
- Step 1: Understand that there are two charges that are attracting or repelling each other.
- Step 2: Know that the force between these charges is described by Coulomb's law.
- Step 3: Remember that Coulomb's law states that the force (F) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (d) between the charges.
- Step 4: This means that if you increase the distance, the force decreases.
- Step 5: If the distance is doubled (2d), you need to calculate the new force using the formula: F = k * (q1 * q2) / (2d)^2.
- Step 6: Simplifying this, you find that (2d)^2 = 4d^2, so the new force is F = k * (q1 * q2) / (4d^2).
- Step 7: This shows that the new force is one-fourth of the original force.
- Coulomb's Law – Coulomb's law states that the force between two point charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
