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

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Coulomb's Law in the context of electrical forces between charged particles, specifically examining how changes in distance affect the force magnitude.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of halving the distance between charged particles and how it affects the electrical force, questioning the relationship defined by Coulomb's Law.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of how the force changes when the distance is altered, with participants providing hints and prompting further consideration of the mathematical implications without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the nuances of Coulomb's Law, particularly the significance of the distance in the denominator and its effect on the force calculation.

weemanbran
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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?
 
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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?
 
If the distance distance is halved then the ratio would increase... I just don't know by how much...
 
Will the force increase or decrease? and by what factor? Hint: What is [tex](\frac{1}{2})^2[/tex]?
 
konthelion said:
Will the force increase or decrease? and by what factor? Hint: What is [tex](\frac{1}{2})^2[/tex]?

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

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