Question

3.1.4 quiz: noncontact forces
question 5 of 10
which two options would increase the electric force between two charged particles?
a. decrease the distance between the particles.
b. increase the distance between the particles.
c. decrease the charge of one of the particles.
d. increase the charge of one of the particles.
e. decrease the charge of both particles.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Coulomb's law

The electric - force formula between two charged particles is $F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^{2}}$, where $k$ is a constant, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges of the two particles, and $r$ is the distance between them.

Step2: Analyze the effect of distance

From the formula $F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^{2}}$, we can see that $F$ is inversely proportional to $r^{2}$. So, decreasing the distance $r$ between the particles will increase the electric force $F$.

Step3: Analyze the effect of charge

Since $F$ is directly proportional to $q_1$ and $q_2$ (i.e., $F$ is proportional to the product $q_1q_2$), increasing the charge of one of the particles will increase the electric force $F$.

Answer:

A. Decrease the distance between the particles.
D. Increase the charge of one of the particles.