Question

if two point charges are separated by 1.5 cm and have charge values of 2.0 and -4.0, respectively, what is the value of the mutual force between them

Answer 1

Complete question:

if two point charges are separated by 1.5 cm and have charge values of +2.0 and -4.0 μC, respectively, what is the value of the mutual force between them.

Answer:

The mutual force between the two point charges is 319.64 N

Explanation:

Given;

distance between the two point charges, r = 1.5 cm = 1.5 x 10⁻² m

value of the charges, q₁ and q₂ = 2 μC and - μ4 C

Apply Coulomb's law;

$F = \frac{k|q_1||q_2|}{r^2}$

where;

F is the force of attraction between the two charges

|q₁| and |q₂| are the magnitude of the two charges

r is the distance between the two charges

k is Coulomb's constant = 8.99 x 10⁹ Nm²/C²

$F = \frac{k|q_1||q_2|}{r^2} \\\\F = \frac{8.99*10^9 *4*10^{-6}*2*10^{-6}}{(1.5*10^{-2})^2} \\\\F = 319.64 \ N$

Therefore, the mutual force between the two point charges is 319.64 N