Question

Two charged particles, Q1, and Q2, are a distance r apart with Q2 = 5Q1 Compare the forces they exert on one another when F1 is the force Q2 exerts on Q1and F2 is the force Q1 exerts on Q2.
a) F2 = 5F1.
b) F2 =-5F1.
c) F2 = F1.
d) F2 = -F1.
e) 5F2 = F1.

Answer 1

Answer:

d) F2 = -F1.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Coulomb's law of forces on electrostatic charges, the force of attraction is proportional to the product of their charges, and inversely proportional to the square of their distance apart.

What this law means is that both particles will experience an equal amount of force on them, due to the presence of the other particle. This force is not just as a result of their individual charges, but as a result of the product of their charges. Also, the force is a vector quantity that must have a direction alongside its magnitude, and the force on the two particles will always act in opposite direction, be it repulsive or attractive.