Two point charges that have charge values of 4.0 X 10^-6 C and -8.0 X 10^-6 C, respectively, are separated by 2.4 X 10^-2 m. What is the mutual force between them, given that kC = 8.99 X 10^9 Nm^2/C^2?

Question

I got the Felectric as -5.0 X 10^2 N, but I'm not sure if that value is supposed to be negative.

Answer 1

8.99*10^9[-32*10^-12 / 5.76*10^-4]
= -49.9 *10^1
= -500 agree
force is attractive (opposite signs). I guess you could call that negative.