Why is attractive force negative?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
"Attraction" and "repulsion" refer to force, not potential energy.
If the force between two particles is repulsive you must do work to bring them closer together, increasing their potential energy
. If you pull them apart they do work on you, decreasing their potential energy. For an attractive force it's the opposite.
Hi,
If this case arises, then by common sense (like repel and unlike attract), we can conclude that the charges will repel each other. And since both the charges are positive, the calculated force will be positive as both the charges in formula will be positive.
Case 2:- If one of the charges is positive and the other is negative. If such a case arises, then we can conclude that they will attract, since the sign of charges are unlike (Q positive and q negative or q positive and Q negative). And the calculated force will be negative as one of the charge in the formula will be negative.
Case 3:- if both charges are negative. In such a case, the charges will repel due to like nature of charge on them. And hence when we will put the charges in formula, both the negatives will multiply to give positive. And hence, the calculated force will be positive.
Hope it helps