Two charged particles held close to each other are released. As they move, the force on each particle increases. Therefore, what must the particles have?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 18, 2017

What charge must the particles have.........?

Explanation:

AS the distance between the charges decreases, the electrostatic force of attraction varies inversely as #r^2#. However, the force of attraction might be ATTRACTIVE, i.e. unlike charges, or REPULSIVE, i.e. like charges.

This is a direct consequence of #"Coulomb's Law"#, an inverse square law.

Because of the proportionality to #1/r^2#, the particles are likely moving towards each other, AND THUS, given #"Coulomb's Law"#, the two particles MUST have opposite electric charge.

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