Question

True or false?
S1: Similar charges attract each other.
S2: Similar charges repel each other.
A. True, true
B. True, false
C. False, true
D. False, false

Answer 1

Hint: We know that positive charges are made up of protons and negative charges are made up of electrons. In every material there are equal numbers of positive charges and negative charges. Therefore, the material has no net electric charge.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that there are two types of electric charges: positive charge and negative charge. The constituents of positive charges are protons while the constituents of negative charges are electrons. We know that there are two types of electric forces: attractive force and repulsive force.

When the force between the two charges is attractive, the charges attract towards each other while the force is repulsive if the charges repel each other. The like charges mean the charges of the same kind and unlike charges mean charges of different kinds. We know like charges repel each other while unlike charges attract each other.

Therefore, the first statement is false and the second statement is true.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Additional information: The total number of positive charges and negative charges in the entire universe is the same. Everything is perfectly balanced. The electric force is a strong force and if there is one more proton in the substance than the electron, the force between them will be able to lift the entire earth!


Note:
Students may wonder, if like charges repel each other then why the protons in the nucleus do not push each other and come out of the nucleus. The answer is all the protons are held together in the nucleus of an atom by nucleus force. The nuclear force is stronger than the electrical force between the protons at short range. Therefore, the effect of repulsion of protons is balanced by the nucleus force.