B. The sharpened pencil decreases distance and decreases force.
When a pencil is sharpened, the graphite point becomes finer and tapers to a point. This reduces the surface area in contact with the paper and thus reduces the friction between the pencil and the paper. With less friction, less force is required to move the pencil across the paper, making it easier to write. Additionally, a sharper point allows for more precise and controlled writing, as it can make smaller and more accurate marks.