Electrical Force Decreased by 1/4 When Particles Moved Half as Far Apart

[weemanbran]

Homework Statement

The magnitude of electrical force between a pair of charged particles is _____ as much when the particles are moved half as far apart.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I understand that Coulomb's Law is.

F = k q1 q2 / d^2

So is the answer just putting in the distance which is 1/2 and squaring it? So is it just 1/2^2?

 

[dynamicsolo]

Be careful -- the distance between particles appears in the denominator of Coulomb's Law. So if the distance is halved, what happens to this ratio?

 

[weemanbran]

If the distance distance is halved then the ratio would increase... I just don't know by how much...

 

[konthelion]

Will the force increase or decrease? and by what factor? Hint: What is $$(\frac{1}{2})^2$$?

 

[dynamicsolo]

Will the force increase or decrease? and by what factor? Hint: What is $$(\frac{1}{2})^2$$?

I think you mean $$\frac{1}{(\frac{1}{2})^2}$$ ; the halved distance is in the denominator for Coulomb's Law...