Question

The distance between a proton and an electron is cut in half. How does the force of attraction change? A) The force becomes twice as much. B) The force becomes one-half as much. C) The force becomes four times as much. D) The force becomes one-quarter as much.

Answer 1

The Answer Is C

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Answer: The force becomes four times as much

The electric force is a force that is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. This can be proved by Coulomb's Law, which states:

"The electrostatic force
`F_(E)` between two point charges
`q_(1)` and
`q_(2)` is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
`d` that separates them, and has the direction of the line that joins them"

Mathematically this law is written as:

`F_(E)= K(q_(1).q_(2))/(d^(2))` (1)

Where
`K` is a proportionality constant.

Now, if we say
`q_(1)` is the proton and
`q_(2)` is the electron, and cut the distance between them in half, the new distance will be
`(d)/(2)`.

Substituting this new distance in equation (1):

`F_(E)= K(q_(1).q_(2))/(((d)/(2))^(2))` (2)

`F_(E)= 4K(q_(1).q_(2))/(d^(2))` (3)>>>As we can see, the force becomes four times stronger