Why do opposite charges attract and like charges repel?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the fundamental principles of electric forces, specifically addressing why opposite charges attract and like charges repel. It establishes that the convention of defining positive and negative charges dictates the direction of electric field vectors, with positive charges radiating outward and negative charges attracting inward. The conversation emphasizes the distinction between electric force and electric field, confirming that the force is the primary focus when discussing charge interactions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric charge conventions (positive and negative)
  • Basic knowledge of electric fields and forces
  • Familiarity with vector representation in physics
  • Concept of test charges in electric field analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Coulomb's Law and its application to electric forces
  • Explore the concept of electric field lines and their significance
  • Learn about the role of test charges in determining electric fields
  • Investigate the differences between electric fields and electric forces
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching electromagnetism, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of electric charge interactions.

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Why does the electric force vectors around a positive charge point outwards and the electric force vectors around a negative charge point inwards?
 
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Those are just conventions. At first we take the convention that the two kinds of charges observed in the nature, be taken to be positive and negative. Then we take the convention that the test charge that is used for determining the electric field be positive and because likes should repel and unlikes should attract, the field lines should go away from positives and to negatives.
 
the field lines should go away from positives and to negatives.

You certainly mean the force, not the electric field.
 

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