The force between two point charges Q and Q' separated by distance d is F = k|QQ'|/d^2. If the distance is doubled, how does F change?

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Study for the UCF PHY2054 General Physics Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with hints and explanations. Boost your understanding and get exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

The force between two point charges Q and Q' separated by distance d is F = k|QQ'|/d^2. If the distance is doubled, how does F change?

Explanation:
Coulomb's law tells us that the electrostatic force between two point charges is proportional to 1 over the distance squared. So if the separation doubles, the factor 1/d^2 becomes 1/(2d)^2 = 1/(4d^2), which is one quarter of the original value. Therefore the force becomes one-quarter of its initial strength. This matches the inverse-square dependence: doubling distance reduces the force by a factor of four. The other options would contradict the 1/d^2 relationship.

Coulomb's law tells us that the electrostatic force between two point charges is proportional to 1 over the distance squared. So if the separation doubles, the factor 1/d^2 becomes 1/(2d)^2 = 1/(4d^2), which is one quarter of the original value. Therefore the force becomes one-quarter of its initial strength. This matches the inverse-square dependence: doubling distance reduces the force by a factor of four. The other options would contradict the 1/d^2 relationship.

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