Like charges do what to each other?

Like charges do what to each other?

• A. Repel each other
• B. Attract toward each other
• C. Neutralize
• D. Move together

Answer: (A)

Like charges repel each other because electric forces push charges with the same sign apart. According to Coulomb’s law, the force depends on the product of the charges: if both are positive or both are negative, the product is positive, and the force is repulsive, pushing the charges away along the line between them. If the charges were opposite, the product would be negative, leading to attraction. A helpful image is field lines emanating from positive charges; nearby like charges distort these fields in a way that drives them apart. So, like charges push away from each other.

Like charges repel each other because electric forces push charges with the same sign apart. According to Coulomb’s law, the force depends on the product of the charges: if both are positive or both are negative, the product is positive, and the force is repulsive, pushing the charges away along the line between them. If the charges were opposite, the product would be negative, leading to attraction. A helpful image is field lines emanating from positive charges; nearby like charges distort these fields in a way that drives them apart. So, like charges push away from each other.