Two charges, Q₁ and Q₂, are separated by a certain distance R. If the magnitudes of the charges are halved, and their separation is also halved, then what happens to the electrical force between these charges?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electrical force between two charges is given by Coulomb's law:F = k * Q1 * Q2 / r^2where k is Coulomb's constant, Q1 and Q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them.If the magnitudes of the charges are halved, and their separation is also halved, then the electrical force between them becomes:F' = k * (Q1/2) * (Q2/2) / (r/2)^2= k * Q1 * Q2 / 4 * r^2= F/4Therefore, the electrical force between the charges is reduced to one-fourth of its original value.

Two Charges, Q1 and Q2, Are Separated by a Certain

Two Charges, Q₁ and Q₂, Are Separated by a Certain