Question

When two point charges are a distance dd part, the electric force that each one feels from the other has magnitude F.F . In order to make this force twice as strong, the distance would have to be changed to _____

Answer 1

In order to make this force twice as strong, F' = 2 F, the distance would have to be changed to half i.e. r' = r/2.

Explanation :

The electric force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between charges. It is given by :

`F=(kq_1q_2)/(r^2)`

r is the separation between charges

`F\propto (1)/(r^2)`

`r=\sqrt{(1)/(F)}`

If F'= 2F

`r'=(1)/(√(2F) )`

In order to make this force twice as strong, F' = 2 F, the distance would have to be changed to half i.e.
`r'=(1)/(√(2F) )`. Hence, this is the required solution.