Question

By what factor will the electric force between two charged objects change if the charge on one object is quadrupled?

a. 1/4
b. 4
c. 8
d. 16

Answer 1

B

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

b. 4

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric force between two charged objects is given by:

`F=k(q_1 q_2)/(r^2)`

where

k is the Coulomb's constant

q1 and q2 are the charges of the two objects

r is the separation between the two objects

In this problem, we have that the charge of one object is quadrupled:

`q_1'=4q_1`

while all the rest remain unchanged. So the new electric force between the two objects is

`F'=k(q_1' q_2)/(r^2)=k((4q_1) q_2)/(r^2)=4 k(q_1 q_2)/(r^2)=4F`

So, the force will quadruple as well.