How Do Charges Affect Electrostatic Force?

[Bashyboy]

Homework Statement

A 8.15 nC charge is located 1.95 m from a 4.18 nC point charge.
(a) Find the magnitude of the electrostatic force that one charge exerts on the other.
N

(b) Is the force attractive or repulsive?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Is there really a way to deduce the sort of force from the given information?

 

[lep11]

Yes, use the Coulombs's law.

 

[Bashyboy]

I'm sorry. I meant to deduce what sort of force it is, as in repulsive or attractive.

 

[haruspex]

Like charges repel. How do you know if the charges are 'alike'?

 

[Bashyboy]

If they have the same sign, then two objects would repel each other?

 

[haruspex]

Yes.