Final answer:
The electric force on the -2e ion caused by the -3e ion can be calculated using Coulomb's Law, considering the direction and magnitude of the force and accounting for the repulsive nature of the interaction between two like-charged ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question focuses on calculating the electric force on a charge due to the presence of a nearby charged ion, using Coulomb's Law. The given scenario involves two negative ions with charges of -2e and -3e. The force experienced by the ion at the origin (charge -2e) due to the second ion (charge -3e), located at (3.8 nm, 3.2 nm), can be calculated by determining the electric force vector using the equation F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between the charges.
To find the vector components, we first calculate the magnitude of the force and then determine the direction using the coordinates given. Since the charges are both negative, the force between them will be repulsive, which means the -2e charge will experience a force in the direction away from the -3e charge. The force components are found by projecting this force onto the x and y axes.