Question

2Objects 1 and 2 attract each other with a electrostatic force of 18.0 units. If the charge of Object 1 is one-fourth the original value AND the charge of object 2 is tripled AND the distance separating Objects 1 and 2 is halved, then the new electrostatic force will be _____ units.

Answer 1

The new force becomes 3 times of the initial force.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let q₁ and q₂ are two charged particles. The force between them is given by :

`F=(kq_1q_2)/(r^2)\ ......(1)`

If
`q_1'=(q_1)/(4)`

and

`q_2'=3q_2`

Also, r' = r/2

New force,

`F'=(kq_1'q_2')/(r'^2)`

Putting all the above values,

`F'=(k(q_1)/(4)3q_2)/((r/2)^2)\\\\F'=3* (kq_1q_2)/(r^2)\\\\F'=3F`

So, the new force becomes 3 times of the initial force.