Final answer:
The force between the two charged spheres would increase when the distance is decreased from 3 cm to 2.8 cm, according to Coulomb's Law and the inverse square law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Physics, specifically relating to Coulomb's Law, which describes the electrostatic force between two charges. According to Coulomb's Law, the electrostatic force (F) between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them, mathematically expressed as F = k * |q1*q2| / r^2, where k is Coulomb's constant.
To answer the question: If two small spheres are given identical positive charges and exhibit a repulsive force of 0.005 N when they are 3 cm apart, the force can be found for a changed distance of 2.8 cm by applying the inverse square law. We can use the ratio of the squares of the distances and the forces to determine the new force. Thus, with the decreased distance, the force between them would increase.