Question:

A charge q1 exerts a 12 N force on another charge

q2. If the distance between the charges is doubled,
what is the magnitude of the force exerted on q1
by q2?

Hint: Coulomb’s Law says:

𝑞1 × 𝑞2
𝐹=𝑘
𝑑2

where k is Coulomb’s Constant (9.0 x 109 N x m2 / C2 ), q1 is

the charge of the first particle, q2 is the charge of the second
particle, and d is the distance between the particles.
 Question:

A charge Q exerts a 12 N force on another charge

q. If the distance between the charges is doubled,
what is the magnitude of the force exerted on Q
by q?
Solution:
Because electric force follows the inverse square
law, if you double the distance, the F decreases by
a factor of (2)2 , or four. Thus, the electric force
would then be 12 N/4 = 3 N.
 Question:

A charge q1 exerts a 12 N force on another charge

q2. If the charge of both particles is tripled, what is
the magnitude of the force exerted on q1 by q2?

Hint: Coulomb’s Law says:

𝑞1 × 𝑞2
𝐹=𝑘
𝑑2

where k is Coulomb’s Constant (9.0 x 109 N x m2 / C2 ), q1 is

the charge of the first particle, q2 is the charge of the second
particle, and d is the distance between the particles.
 Question:

A charge Q exerts a 12 N force on another charge

q. If the charge of both particles is tripled, what is
the magnitude of the force exerted on Q by q?

Solution:

According to Coulomb’s Law, the electric force exerted by one particle

on another is directly proportional to the product of the charges of the
two particles. Thus, if we triple the charge of each particle, the electric
force by one on the other is increased by a factor of 3 x 3 = 9. Given
the original electric force is equal to 12 N, the final electric force is
equal to 9 x 12 N = 108 N.