Question

Consider the electric force between a pair of charged particles a certain distance apart. By Coulomb's Law: If instead, the distance between the particles is doubled, the force becomes _____.

a. one fourth.
b. half.
c. double.
d. 4 times.

Answer 1

`F'=(1)/(4)* F`

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric force between two charged particle is given by :

`F=k(q_1q_2)/(d^2)`

d is the distance between charged particles

Let F' is the force when the distance between the particles is doubled, d' = 2d

New force is given by :

`F'=k(q_1q_2)/((d')^2)`

`F'=k(q_1q_2)/((2d)^2)`

`F'=(1)/(4)* k(q_1q_2)/((d)^2)`

`F'=(1)/(4)* F`

The new force becomes one fourth of the original force. So, if the distance between the particles is doubled, the force becomes one fourth.