Question

Select the correct answer.
The electric force between two charged objects is 0.24 newtons. If the distance between them is increased by a factor of 4, what will be the new force?
A.
0.015 newtons
B.
0.03 newtons
C.
0.06 newtons
D.
0.12 newtons
E.
0.36 newtons

Answer 1

The electric force between two charged objects can be described by Coulomb's Law, which states that the force \( F \) between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance \( r \) between them:

\[
F \propto \frac{1}{r^2}
\]

If the original force is \( F_1 = 0.24 \) newtons and the distance is increased by a factor of 4, the new distance \( r' \) will be:

\[
r' = 4r
\]

The new force \( F_2 \) can be calculated as:

\[
F_2 = \frac{F_1}{(k^2)}
\]

where \( k \) is the factor by which the distance is increased. In this case, \( k = 4 \).

Thus,

\[
F_2 = \frac{0.24 \, \text{N}}{(4^2)} = \frac{0.24 \, \text{N}}{16} = 0.015 \, \text{N}
\]

So the new force is **0.015 newtons**.

The correct answer is **A. 0.015 newtons**.