Step-by-step explanation:
As the distance increases, the absolute value of the force decreases. Therefore, the correct answer is "increases; decreases". This is in accordance with Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. As the distance between the charges increases, the force between them decreases because the inverse square relationship causes the force to weaken rapidly with distance.