Question

fill - in - the - blank: electric force becomes (stronger / weaker) when charges are close together and (stronger / weaker) when charges are far apart.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law states that the electric force \(F = k\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}\), where \(k\) is a constant, \(q_1\) and \(q_2\) are charges, and \(r\) is the distance between them.

Step2: Analyze the effect of distance

When \(r\) (distance) is small (charges close together), the denominator \(r^2\) is small. So, \(F\) (electric force) is large (stronger). When \(r\) is large (charges far apart), the denominator \(r^2\) is large. So, \(F\) is small (weaker).

Answer:

stronger; weaker