Question

How does the Coulomb force affect charge interactions?
Like charges attract, and opposite charges repel.
Like and opposite charges attract.
Like and opposite charges repel.
Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract

Answer 1

The correct statement regarding charge interactions is: **Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract.**

Here’s a brief explanation of how the Coulomb force works:

1. **Like Charges**: When two charges are of the same kind (both positive or both negative), they exert a repulsive force on each other. This means they push away from each other.

2. **Opposite Charges**: When two charges are of opposite kinds (one positive and one negative), they exert an attractive force on each other. This causes them to pull towards each other.

The mathematical formulation of the Coulomb force is given by Coulomb's Law:

\[
F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}
\]

where:
- \( F \) is the magnitude of the force between the charges,
- \( k \) is Coulomb's constant,
- \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) are the magnitudes of the charges, and
- \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two charges.

In summary, charges interact through the Coulomb force such that like charges repel and opposite charges attract.