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?

Question

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 large are the objects in each set?
How large are the objects in each set?

How far apart are the objects in each interaction?
How far apart are the objects in each interaction?

Answer 1

To identify the set with the stronger interaction between the charged objects, the most relevant question to ask is:

Are the objects both positively charged or both negatively charged?

This question is crucial because the electrostatic force between charged objects is determined by their charges according to Coulomb's law. If both sets of objects are either positively charged or negatively charged, the interaction is a repulsive force, but knowing whether there's a mix of charges can help in understanding the nature of the interactions as well.

However, to directly compare the strength of the interactions between the two sets, asking about the charge configuration (like whether they are like charges or opposite charges) can provide insights into the nature (attractive or repulsive) and potential strength of the interaction.

The other questions related to mass, size, and distance can provide additional context or information but are not as directly relevant to identifying the strength of the electrostatic interaction as the question about charge types.