Question

A student observes interactions between two sets of electrically charged objects. In each set, the objects carry either a charge of –1 or +1 Coulomb. Which question can the student ask to identify the set with the stronger interaction?(1 point) Responses What is the mass of each object in the interactions? What is the mass of each object in the interactions? Are the objects both positively charged or both negatively charged? Are the objects both positively charged or both negatively charged? How far apart are the objects in each interaction? How far apart are the objects in each interaction? How large are the objects in each set?

Answer 1

To identify the set with the stronger interaction between two sets of electrically charged objects, the student should ask:

How far apart are the objects in each interaction?

The strength of the electric force between two charged objects is described by Coulomb's Law, which states that the force increases with the magnitudes of the charges and decreases with the square of the distance between the charges. Therefore, knowing the distance between the objects is crucial in determining which set has the stronger interaction.