Question

Two electric charges, held a distance, d, apart experience an electric force of magnitude, F, between them. If one of the charges is doubled in magnitude while maintaining the same separation between the charges, what is the new magnitude of the force between them?

Answer 1

Answer:

When one of charge is doubled, the magnitude of the force between them gets doubled.

Explanation:

The electric force between two electric charges is given by :

$F=k\dfrac{q_1q_2}{d^2}$

Here,

k is the electrostatic force

d is the separation between charges

$q_1\ and\ q_2$ are charges

If one of the charges is doubled in magnitude while maintaining the same separation between the charges, $q_1'=2q_1$

New force becomes,

$F'=k\dfrac{q_1'q_2'}{d'^2}$

$F'=k\dfrac{(2q_1)q_2'}{d'^2}$

$F'=2k\dfrac{q_1q_2'}{d'^2}$

When one of charge is doubled, the magnitude of the force between them gets doubled. Hence, this is the required solution.