If two opposite charges get farther apart, does their attraction for each other increase, decrease, or remain the same?

Question

Physics

Greta Zimmerman

26 May, 15:36

If two opposite charges get farther apart, does their attraction for each other increase, decrease, or remain the same?

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Answers (1)

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Cherokee · Answer 1

The force between them decreases, as the square of the distance.

For example ...

- - If you move them apart to double the original distance, the force becomes (1/2²) = 1/4 of the original force.

- - If you move them apart to 3 times the original distance, the force becomes (1/3²) = 1/9 of the original force.

- - If you move them apart to 5 times the original distance, the force becomes (1/5²) = 1/25 of the original force.

(Gravity works exactly the same way.)