The electric force between two charged objects is influenced by three primary factors:
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Magnitude of the Charges: The strength of the electric force is directly proportional to the magnitudes of the charges involved. If either charge increases, the electric force also increases.
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Distance Between the Charges: The electric force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the charges. This means that as the distance increases, the electric force decreases. Mathematically, this is described by Coulomb's Law: \( F = k \frac{|q_1 \cdot q_2|}{r^2} \), where \( k \) is Coulomb's constant, \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) are the magnitudes of the charges, and \( r \) is the distance between their centers.
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Medium Between the Charges: The type of material or medium between the charges can affect the electric force. Different materials have different permittivities, which can either enhance or diminish the electric field and consequently change the force experienced between the charges. For example, the presence of a dielectric material can reduce the effective electric force between the charges compared to air or a vacuum.
These factors together help determine the strength and direction of the electric force experienced between charged objects.