Coulomb's Law
The electric force between two point charges is described by Coulomb's Law:
* F = k * (q1 * q2) / r²
Where:
* F is the electric force
* k is Coulomb's constant (approximately 8.99 x 10⁹ N⋅m²/C²)
* q1 and q2 are the magnitudes of the charges
* r is the distance between the charges
The Effect of Reducing One Charge
Let's say we reduce the charge *q1* by a factor of 3. This means the new charge becomes *q1/3*. Substituting this into Coulomb's Law:
* F' = k * ((q1/3) * q2) / r²
Simplifying:
* F' = (1/3) * k * (q1 * q2) / r²
Notice that the new force (F') is exactly 1/3 of the original force (F).
Conclusion
If you reduce one charge by a factor of 3, the electric force between the two charges will also decrease by a factor of 3.
