I need help with this question, please.
What is the direction of the force between (a) two particles whose charges are the same sign and (b) two particles of opposite sign? (c) What happens to the magnitude of the force when the distance between two particles is increased?
Answer a)towards each other or away of each other?
b)towards each other or away of each other?
c)increases, decreases, or stay the same?
Thank you.
Thank you
To answer these questions, we need to consider the concept of electric forces between charged particles. The force between two charged particles is governed by Coulomb's Law.
Coulomb's Law states that the magnitude of the electric force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2
Where:
- F represents the magnitude of the force between the two particles
- k is the electrostatic constant (usually denoted as 9 x 10^9 N * m^2 / C^2)
- q1 and q2 are the charges of the two particles
- r is the distance between the particles
Now, let's analyze each situation:
(a) For two particles with charges of the same sign:
- If the charges have the same sign, let's say they are both positive, the force between them will be repulsive.
- This means that the particles will experience a force pushing them away from each other.
- So, the direction of the force is away from each other.
(b) For two particles with charges of opposite sign:
- If the charges have opposite signs, let's say one positive and one negative, the force between them will be attractive.
- This means that the particles will experience a force pulling them towards each other.
- So, the direction of the force is towards each other.
(c) When the distance between two particles is increased:
- According to Coulomb's Law, the force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
- This implies that as the distance between the particles increases, the magnitude of the force decreases.
- So, the force decreases when the distance between the particles is increased.
In summary:
(a) The force between two particles with the same sign charges is away from each other.
(b) The force between two particles with opposite sign charges is towards each other.
(c) The magnitude of the force decreases when the distance between the particles is increased.