Coulomb’s law provides the force between two point charges:
F = (kq1q2)/r2
where k is the Coulomb constant, r is the distance between the charges, q1 and q2 are the charges, and F is the force.
The force between the two charges is as follows if the distance between them is cut in half (i.e., r is divided by 2):
F’ = (kq1q2)/(r/2)2.
F’ = (kq1q2)/(r2/4)
F’ = 4xkq1q2)/r2
F’ = 4F
Therefore, if the distance between the two charges is cut in half, the force between them is quadrupled, or four times as much.
Coulomb’s law provides the force between two point charges:
F = (kq1q2)/r2
where k is the Coulomb constant, r is the distance between the charges, q1 and q2 are the charges, and F is the force.
The force between the two charges is as follows if the distance between them is cut in half (i.e., r is divided by 2):
F’ = (kq1q2)/(r/2)2.
F’ = (kq1q2)/(r2/4)
F’ = 4xkq1q2)/r2
F’ = 4F
Therefore, if the distance between the two charges is cut in half, the force between them is quadrupled, or four times as much.