Two charged particles held close to each other are released. As they move, the force on each particle increases. Therefore, the particles must have
A) the same size.
B) opposite signs.
C) the same mass.
D) the same sign.
E) impossible to answer without additional information

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the particles move away from each other, the distance between them increases. According to Coulomb's law, the force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Therefore, as the distance between the particles increases, the force between them decreases. However, the question states that the force on each particle increases as they move. This can only be true if the particles have opposite signs.

Two Charged Particles Held Close to Each Other Are Released