Question

What is meant by screening?

Group of answer choices
a. Screening occurs because repulsive forces tend to be stronger than attractive forces, leading to an attenuated net force.
b. Screening occurs because attractive and repulsive forces tend to add up, leading to an enhanced net force.
c. Screening occurs because attractive forces tend to be stronger than repulsive forces, leading to an enhanced net force.
d. Screening occurs because repulsive forces tend to be stronger than attractive forces, leading to net force.

Answer 1

Screening is the process causing a reduction in the electric field strength due to other charges, altering the Coulomb interaction to be more of a short-range force.

Step-by-step explanation:

Screening in physics refers to the process by which other charges in a material or space reduce the effective electric field created by a charge. This phenomenon results in a decrease in the strength of the Coulomb interaction, making it behave more as a short-range force rather than a long-range one. Especially in biological contexts, like within a cell, screening dilutes electrostatic forces due to the abundance of charged molecules and the polarity of water molecules. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that screening occurs because repulsive forces tend to be stronger than attractive forces, leading to an attenuated net force.