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An electrical force of 8.0 × 10−5 newton exists between two point charges, q1 and q2. If the distance between the charges is doubled, the new electrical force between the charges will be

User Apache
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Final answer:

When the distance between two point charges is doubled, the electrical force between them is reduced by a factor of four, leading to a new force of 2.0 x 10^-5 N, as predicted by Coulomb's Law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electrical force between two point charges is determined by Coulomb's Law, which states that the force (F) between two charges (q1 and q2) is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them.

The equation for Coulomb's Law is F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where k is Coulomb's constant, approximately 8.99 x 10^9 N·m^2/C^2.

In this scenario, when the distance between the charges is doubled, the force is reduced by a factor of four. This can be seen from the formula, as doubling the distance (r becomes 2r) leads to quadrupling the denominator of the equation (since (2r)^2 = 4r^2), thereby reducing the original force by a quarter.

Therefore, the new electrical force between the charges would be 2.0 x 10^-5 N.

User Prince Goulash
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Electric force scales with the inverse of distance squared, so doubling the distance decreases the force to 1/4 of the initial value.

2.0 * 10^-5 N
User SirFunkenstine
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