A positive charge is 1 m to the left of a negative charge. The positive charge is then moved and placed 1 m to the right of the negative charge. What happens to the electrostatic force between the charges?
The electrostatic force remains repulsive, and the magnitude does not change.
The electrostatic force remains repulsive, but the magnitude changes.
The electrostatic force remains attractive, but the magnitude changes.
The electrostatic force remains attractive, and the magnitude does not change.
The electrostatic force remains attractive, and the magnitude does not change.
The correct answer is: The electrostatic force remains repulsive, and the magnitude does not change.
When two charges have opposite signs, like a positive charge and a negative charge, the electrostatic force between them is attractive. In this scenario, the positive charge is placed 1 m to the left of the negative charge, resulting in an attractive force between them.
When the positive charge is moved and placed 1 m to the right of the negative charge, the electrostatic force between them remains repulsive. This is because the charges have the same sign, and like charges repel each other. The magnitude of the force does not change since the distance between the charges remains the same.
To determine what happens to the electrostatic force between the charges, we need to consider the following:
1. Electrostatic Force: The force between two charges is given by Coulomb's Law, which states that the electrostatic force (F) is directly proportional to the product of the charges (q1 and q2) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them.
2. Repulsive and Attractive Forces: Like charges (both positive or both negative) repel each other, while opposite charges (positive and negative) attract each other.
In this scenario, we have a positive charge and a negative charge. Initially, the positive charge is 1 m to the left of the negative charge. When a positive charge is near a negative charge, they attract each other. Therefore, the electrostatic force is initially attractive.
Now, when the positive charge is moved and placed 1 m to the right of the negative charge, they are closer together. As per Coulomb's Law, when the distance between two charges decreases, the electrostatic force increases.
Since opposite charges (positive and negative) still attract each other, and the distance between them decreases, the electrostatic force remains attractive. Therefore, the correct answer is:
The electrostatic force remains attractive, and the magnitude changes.