TeXes Science Practice Test

According to which law is the electrostatic force dependent on the product of charge magnitudes and inversely on the square of the distance?

1. Newton's Law

2. Ohm's Law

3. Faraday's Law

4. Coulomb's Law

The correct answer is: Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic force between two charged objects. It states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges involved and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This relationship is crucial in understanding how charged objects interact. The mathematical expression of Coulomb's Law highlights that as the distance between two charges increases, the force they exert on each other decreases significantly (following an inverse square relationship). Conversely, if the quantities of the charges increase, the electrostatic force increases as well. This foundational principle is essential in fields such as physics and electrostatics, providing valuable insights into the behavior of charged objects. The other options relate to different physical laws: Newton's Law pertains primarily to motion and gravity, Ohm's Law deals with electrical current, voltage, and resistance, while Faraday's Law focuses on electromagnetic induction. Each of these laws serves distinct purposes and does not address the electrostatic force in the manner that Coulomb's Law does.