Questions: QUESTION 3 Two small objects carry the same amount of charge, and the magnitude of the electric force exerted by one object on the other is 0.10 N when they are held 30 mm apart. If the force magnitude increases when the objects are released and free to move, are the objects of the same charge or opposite charge? Objects are of the same charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter. Objects are of the opposite charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter. Objects are of the same charge and one object has a larger magnitude. Objects are of the opposite charge and one object has a larger magnitude. Cannot be determined without more information

QUESTION 3
Two small objects carry the same amount of charge, and the magnitude of the electric force exerted by one object on the other is 0.10 N when they are held 30 mm apart. If the force magnitude increases when the objects are released and free to move, are the objects of the same charge or opposite charge?
Objects are of the same charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter.
Objects are of the opposite charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter.
Objects are of the same charge and one object has a larger magnitude.
Objects are of the opposite charge and one object has a larger magnitude.
Cannot be determined without more information

Transcript text: QUESTION 3 Two small objects carry the same amount of charge, and the magnitude of the electric force exerted by one object on the other is 0.10 N when they are held 30 mm apart. If the force magnitude increases when the objects are released and free to move, are the objects of the same charge or opposite charge? Objects are of the same charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter. Objects are of the opposite charge, the magnitude of the two charges does not matter. Objects are of the same charge and one object has a larger magnitude. Objects are of the opposite charge and one object has a larger magnitude. Cannot be determined without more information

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding the Problem

We are given two small objects with the same amount of charge, and the electric force between them is 0.10 N when they are 30 mm apart. We need to determine whether the objects have the same or opposite charges based on the behavior of the force when the objects are released and free to move.

Step 2: Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law states that the electric force \( F \) between two charges \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) separated by a distance \( r \) is given by: \[ F = k_e \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \] where \( k_e \) is Coulomb's constant (\( 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2 / \text{C}^2 \)).

Step 3: Analyzing the Force Behavior

If the force magnitude increases when the objects are released, it implies that the distance between the objects is decreasing. This can only happen if the objects are attracting each other, which means they must have opposite charges.