Question

Which statement is true about the electric force between two charges represented by Coulomb's law?

Options:
a) It is inversely proportional to the product of the charges.
b) It is directly proportional to the square of the distance between the charges.
c) It is affected by the medium between the charges.
d) It is independent of the magnitudes of the charges.
e) It is a conservative force.

Answer 1

The true statement about the electric force between two charges in Coulomb's law is that it is affected by the medium between the charges, while the other options provided are incorrect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about the electric force between two charges as represented by Coulomb's law is that it is affected by the medium between the charges. Coulomb's law indicates that the electrostatic force is proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The force is not independent of the magnitudes of the charges, nor is it directly proportional to the square of the distance or inversely proportional to the product of the charges. Additionally, electrostatic forces are known to be conservative forces.

Therefore, with reference to the options provided, the statement c) 'It is affected by the medium between the charges' is the true one. This recognizes that the permittivity of the intervening medium can alter the magnitude of the electric force between the charges.