Two charges that are separated by one meter exert 1-N forces on each other. If the charges are pushed together so the separation is 25 centimeters, the force on each charge will be
A)1 N.
B)2 N.
C)4 N.
D)8 N.
E)16 N.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them (Coulomb's Law). Reducing the distance to 1/4 (from 1 meter to 0.25 meters) increases the force by a factor of 16 (since (1/0.25)^2 = 16).

Two Charges That Are Separated by One Meter Exert 1-N