If the distance between two charges is increased to three times the original distance, how will the electrical force between the charges compare with the original force?
Answer
A
It will decrease to one-ninth the original force.
B
It will increase to nine times the original force.
C
It will increase to three times the original force.
D
It will decrease to one-third the original force.
Explanation
Coulomb’s law says the electrical force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the charges. Tripling the distance changes the force by a factor of 1/(3²) = 1/9, so it decreases to one-ninth of the original force.
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