Question 15 Marks
Two charged particles placed at a separation of 20cm exert 20N of Coulomb force on each other. What will be the force if the separation is increased to 25cm?
Answer
View full question & answer→Two charged particles placed at a separation of 20cm exert 20N of Coulomb force on each other. So, $\text{F}_1=\frac{1}{4\pi\in_0}\cdot\frac{\text{q}^2}{\text{r}^2_1}$ Also, $\text{F}_2=\frac{1}{4\pi\in_0}\cdot\frac{\text{q}^2}{\text{r}^2_2}$ According to the question, we have:$\frac{\text{F}_1}{\text{F}_2}=\frac{\text{r}^2_1}{\text{r}^2_2}$
$=\frac{20\times20}{25\times25}=\frac{16}{25}$
$\therefore\text{F}_2=\frac{16}{25}\times\text{F}_1$
$\Rightarrow\text{F}_2=\frac{16}{25}\times20$
$\Rightarrow\text{F}_2=12.8\text{N}\approx13.0\text{N}$
Therefore, the two charged particles will exert a force of 13.0N on each other, if the separation is increased to 25cm.
$=\frac{20\times20}{25\times25}=\frac{16}{25}$
$\therefore\text{F}_2=\frac{16}{25}\times\text{F}_1$
$\Rightarrow\text{F}_2=\frac{16}{25}\times20$
$\Rightarrow\text{F}_2=12.8\text{N}\approx13.0\text{N}$
Therefore, the two charged particles will exert a force of 13.0N on each other, if the separation is increased to 25cm.