Physics · Electric charges: conservation of charge, Coulomb's law forces between two point charges, forces between multiple charges, superposition principle and continuous charge distribution

When air is replaced by a dielectric medium of force constant , the maximum forc

When air is replaced by a dielectric medium of force constant \( \mathrm{K} \), the maximum force of attraction between two charges, separated by a distance :

  • A. decreases K times
  • B. increases K times
  • C. remains unchanged
  • D. becomes \( \frac{1}{K^{2}} \) times

Step-by-step solution

According to Coulomb's law, the force between two charges in a medium with dielectric constant K is F = (1/(4πε0K)) * (q1 q2)/r^2, which is 1/K times the force in air. Thus, the maximum force of attraction decreases by a factor of K.
Practise more in this unitView MCQsSign up for full question bank