Two point charges and in vacuum are separated by a distance and experience a force

PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Electric Charges and Fields · Electric Charges and Fields

Problem

Two point charges

q_1

and

q_2

in vacuum are separated by a distance

r

and experience a force

F

. (a) Show that if

q_1

is tripled while the separation is simultaneously reduced to

\tfrac{r}{2}

, the new magnitude of force

F'

becomes

12F

. (b) Take

q_1 = 2\,\mu\text{C}

q_2 = -3\,\mu\text{C}

and

r = 0.15\,\text{m}

. Calculate the original force

F

as well as the revised force

F'

obtained after the changes described in part (a). (c) Comment, with reasons, on whether the nature of the interaction (attraction or repulsion) changes after the modifications in part (a).

Related theory

Coulomb's Law
Electric Force
Coulomb's law and superposition of forces
Electric Charges and Fields

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