Question

Assume that in interstellar space the distance between two electrons is about 0.56 cm. The electric force between the two electrons is 1. Attractive. 2. Repulsive.

Answer 1

Answer: 2. Repulsive

The electric force is a force that is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. This can be proved by Coulomb's Law, which states:

"The electrostatic force
`F_(E)` between two point charges
`q_(1)` and
`q_(2)` is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
`d` that separates them, and has the direction of the line that joins them"

Mathematically this law is written as:

`F_(E)= K(q_(1).q_(2))/(d^(2))`

Where
`K` is a proportionality constant.

So, if we have two electrons, this means we have two charges with the same sign, hence the electric force between them will be repulsive.