Question

the model below represents the electric field around a negative ion. select the charge that will feel the strongest attraction due to the electric field.

Explanation:

1. First, recall the principles of electric fields and forces: Opposite charges attract, like charges repel. The strength of the electric force (and thus attraction/repulsion) is related to the distance from the source charge (the negative ion here) and the nature of the charge (positive charges are attracted to negative ions, negative charges are repelled).
2. Analyze the charges: The source is a negative ion (\(-\)). We need the charge with the strongest attraction, so we consider positive charges (since negative charges would repel the source). Among the positive charges, the one closer to the negative ion will experience a stronger attractive force (because electric field strength and force are stronger closer to the source charge, following Coulomb's law or the pattern of electric field lines being denser near the source).
3. Compare the positions of the positive charges: The positive charge closer to the blue negative ion (the lower positive charge, compared to the upper one) is at a shorter distance. Shorter distance means stronger attractive force (since force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, \( F \propto \frac{1}{r^2} \) for point charges, or from the density of field lines indicating stronger field near the source). Also, negative charges are repelled, so we eliminate them. Thus, the positive charge closer to the negative ion (the one near the blue \(-\) ion) will feel the strongest attraction.

Answer:

The positive charge (green \(+\)) that is closest to the blue negative ion (the one near the center, not the upper \(+\) charge)