Question

question #2 predict how the strength of the force between the cars changes when the wedges are taken away and the cars are allowed to move. justify your prediction.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Coulomb's law

The force between charged objects is given by $F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}$, where $k$ is Coulomb's constant, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges, and $r$ is the distance between them.

Step2: Analyze the situation

When the wedges are removed, the cars (with charged metal - sheets) will move towards each other due to the attractive force between opposite charges. As they move closer, the distance $r$ between the charges decreases.

Step3: Determine the force change

Since $F$ is inversely proportional to $r^2$ (from Coulomb's law), as $r$ decreases, the force $F$ between the cars increases.

Answer:

The strength of the force between the cars increases. This is because according to Coulomb's law ($F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}$), when the wedges are removed and the cars move closer (decreasing the distance $r$ between the charged metal - sheets), the force between the oppositely - charged metal sheets on the cars increases.