Question

Hypothesize what might occur when two oppositely charged objects (positive & negative) are placed close to each other. What would happen as you increase the distance between objects?

Answer 1

Answer:

When two oppositely charged objects are brought near each other, a force of attraction is produced between the charges and they become attracted to each other.

If the distance between the two charges were to be increased, the force of attraction between the two charges decreases.

Explanation:

According to Coulombs law, the force of attraction or repulsion between two charges is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of distance of separation between the charges.

Also, a fundamental principle of electrostatics states that like charges repel each other whereas unlike charges attract each other.

From these two laws, it can be deduced that a force of attraction will exist between the two oppositely charged objects when they are brought close ti each other. Also, when the distance of separation between the objects is increased, the magnitude of attractive force between them decreases. This decrease is such that if the distance of separation is increased by a factor of say 2, the magnitude of attractive force decreases by a factor of the square of 2 which is 4.