Which variable in Coulomb's law represents the separation between the two charges?

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Multiple Choice

Which variable in Coulomb's law represents the separation between the two charges?

Explanation:
The separation between the two charges is captured by the distance r. In Coulomb's law, F = k q1 q2 / r^2, r represents how far apart the charges are. This distance controls how strong the interaction is: as r increases, the force decreases with the inverse square of the distance. The charges themselves are q1 and q2, and F is the resulting force, not the separation. Since distance is a positive measure of how far apart the charges are, r is the correct variable for separation.

The separation between the two charges is captured by the distance r. In Coulomb's law, F = k q1 q2 / r^2, r represents how far apart the charges are. This distance controls how strong the interaction is: as r increases, the force decreases with the inverse square of the distance. The charges themselves are q1 and q2, and F is the resulting force, not the separation. Since distance is a positive measure of how far apart the charges are, r is the correct variable for separation.

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