Question

if a positively charged object and a negatively charged object are moved closer to each other, what will happen to the electric force between them? the attractive force between them will become stronger. the amount of charge on each object will decrease. the attractive force between them will become weaker. the force will change from attraction to repulsion.

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 the charges, and \( r \) is the distance between them.

Step2: Analyze the effect of decreasing distance

When the positively and negatively charged objects (so \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) have opposite signs, leading to an attractive force) are moved closer, \( r \) decreases. Since \( F \propto\frac{1}{r^2} \), as \( r \) gets smaller, \( F \) (the attractive force) increases. Also, the amount of charge \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) doesn't change just because the distance changes (unless there is a charge - transfer mechanism which is not indicated here). And opposite charges always attract, not repel.

Answer:

The attractive force between them will become stronger.