What happens when two objects have like charges?

What happens when two objects have like charges?

• A. They repel
• B. They attract
• C. They become neutral
• D. They exchange charge

Answer: (A)

When two objects carry the same type of electric charge, they push away from each other. This repulsion comes from the electric force between charges: the stronger the charges and the closer the objects are, the stronger the push. Mathematically, the force is proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, so like charges (both positive or both negative) produce a repulsive interaction. They don’t automatically become neutral or exchange charge just because they have the same sign; neutralization would require a transfer of charge from one object to another, which isn’t implied by just having like charges.

When two objects carry the same type of electric charge, they push away from each other. This repulsion comes from the electric force between charges: the stronger the charges and the closer the objects are, the stronger the push. Mathematically, the force is proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, so like charges (both positive or both negative) produce a repulsive interaction. They don’t automatically become neutral or exchange charge just because they have the same sign; neutralization would require a transfer of charge from one object to another, which isn’t implied by just having like charges.