What is the interaction between like charges?

Prepare for the NCEA Level 2 Physics Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

When two like charges interact, they experience a force that causes them to repel each other. This phenomenon is rooted in Coulomb's Law, which states that like charges (both positive or both negative) exert a force that pushes them apart. This repulsive force occurs because the electric field created by each charge interacts in such a way that it drives the charges away from one another.

In a practical sense, if you were to bring two balloons that have been rubbed on your hair to generate static electricity close together, you would notice that they tend to move apart from each other. This is a direct manifestation of the repulsive force experienced between the like charges on the surfaces of the balloons. The behavior of like charges is consistent across various scenarios and highlights the fundamental principles of electrostatics.

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