Hi,
I am working on physics homework and i have these 2 questions below. The back of the textbook says they are both true, but I am confused about why as I thought they were false, or if it is simply a mistake. Thanks!
2) The value of the proportionality constant k in Coulombs law depends on the distance between the two charges. True or False?
9) An electric dipole consists of two point particles of equal an opposite charge located a small distance apart. True or False?
To determine whether these statements are true or false, let's break down the questions and explain how to approach them:
2) The value of the proportionality constant k in Coulomb's law depends on the distance between the two charges. True or False?
Coulomb's law states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. In mathematical terms, Coulomb's law can be written as F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where F is the force between the charges, q1 and q2 are the magnitudes of the charges, r is the distance between the charges, and k is the proportionality constant.
So, the question is whether the value of k depends on the distance between the charges. The answer is False. The value of the proportionality constant, k, does not depend on the distance between the charges. It is a constant that depends on other factors, such as the medium in which the charges are placed.
To understand why it does not depend on the distance, consider the inverse square relationship in the formula. When you change the distance, the force changes accordingly (inversely proportional to the square of the distance). However, the proportionality constant ensures that the ratio between force and distance squared remains constant.
9) An electric dipole consists of two point particles of equal an opposite charge located a small distance apart. True or False?
An electric dipole is formed by two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance. The charges in an electric dipole have the same magnitude but opposite signs, creating a net neutral system. When an electric dipole is placed in an external electric field, it experiences a torque, resulting in the alignment of the dipole with the electric field. The positive charge tends to move towards the negative charge, and vice versa.
Therefore, the statement is True. An electric dipole consists of two point particles of equal and opposite charge located a small distance apart.