An electron and a proton are separated by a distance of 1 m. What happens to the size of the force on the proton if the electron is moved 0.5 m closer to the proton?
A) It decreases to one-fourth its original value.
B) It decreases to one-half its original value.
C) It increases to 4 times its original value.
D) It increases to 2 times its original value.
E) It increases to 8 times its original value.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force between two charges is given by Coulomb's law, which states that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. If the distance is halved, the force increases by a factor of $ (1/0.5)^2 = 4 $.

An Electron and a Proton Are Separated by a Distance