Question

what would make oppositely charged objects attract each other more?
increasing the positive charge of the positively charged object and increasing the negative charge of the
negatively charged object
decreasing the positive charge of the positively charged object and decreasing the negative charge of the
negatively charged object
increasing the distance between the positively charged object and the negatively charged object
maintaining the distance between the positively charged object and the negatively charged object

Explanation:

According to Coulomb's law \(F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}\) (where \(F\) is the electrostatic force, \(k\) is a constant, \(q_1\) and \(q_2\) are the charges of the two objects, and \(r\) is the distance between them), the electrostatic force between two charged objects is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

• Option 1: Only increasing the positive charge of the positively - charged object does not fully utilize the factors that can maximize the force.
• Option 2: Decreasing the positive charge and decreasing the negative charge will reduce the force.
• Option 3: Increasing the distance will reduce the force as the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
• Option 4: Maintaining the distance (so \(r\) is constant) and having both charges (one positive and one negative) means that the product \(q_1q_2\) (where \(q_1>0\) and \(q_2 < 0\)) will result in a non - zero force. Since the formula \(F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}\) and \(k\) and \(r\) are non - zero constants in this case (distance is maintained), the force will be non - zero and is the best among the given options to have a non - zero attractive force (as opposite charges attract).

Answer:

maintaining the distance between the positively charged object and the negatively charged object