Question

Two charges are separated by 0.50 m. One of the charges, Q1, has twice the magnitude of the other, Q2. The distance that separates them is maintained. The magnitude of the electrostatic force that Q1 exerts on Q2 is _____ the magnitude of the electrostatic force that Q2 exerts on Q1. A) the same asB) half as much asC) doubleD) quadruple

Answer 1

According to Coulomb's law,

The magnitude of the electrostatic force on the charge Q_1 due to the charge Q_2 is,

`F_(12)=(kQ_1Q_2)/(d^2)\ldots\text{.}\mathrm{}(1)`

where k is the electrostatic force constant and d is the distance between the charges,

The magnitude of the electrostatic force on the charge Q_2 due to the charge Q_1 is,

`F_(21)=(kQ_2Q_1)/(d^2)\ldots\ldots\text{.}(2)`

From the equation (1) and (2),

The electrostatic force on charge Q_2 due to the charge Q_1 is the same as the electrostatic charge on Q_1 due to the charge Q_2.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.