Question

Objects 1 and 2 attract each other with a electrostatic force

of 36.0 units. If the distance separating Objects 1 and 2 is

changed to one-half the original value (i.e., halved), then the

new electrostatic force will be units.

Answer 1

F = 144 units

Step-by-step explanation:

For this exercise we use coulomb's law, for the initial conditions

F₀ =
`k (q_1q_2)/(r_o^2)`

indicate that the force F₀ = 36.0 units and the distance is reduced to r = r₀/2 which is the new force

F =
`k ( q_1q_2 )/((r_o/2)^2)`

we substitute

F = 4
`k (q_1q_2)/(r_o^2)`

F = 4 F₀

we calculate

F = 4 36

F = 144 units