A proton is about 2000 times more massive than an electron but they both have charges of the same magnitude. The magnitude of the force on an electron by a proton is ____ the magnitude of the force on the proton by the electron.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnitude of the force between two charged particles is given by Coulomb's law, which depends on the product of their charges and inversely on the square of the distance between them. Since both the proton and the electron have charges of the same magnitude, the force they exert on each other will be equal in magnitude. The mass of the particle does not affect the magnitude of the force, only its acceleration due to that force. Therefore, the correct answer is B, equal to.

A Proton Is About 2000 Times More Massive Than an Electron