What happens with unlike charges?

• A. They repel each other
• B. They attract each other
• C. They neutralize each other
• D. They have no effect on each other

Answer: (B)

In the study of electrostatics, unlike charges refer to charges of opposite polarity, such as a positive charge and a negative charge. The fundamental principle governing the interaction between unlike charges is that they attract each other. This attraction occurs due to the electric field that each charge creates, which influences the other charge positively, pulling it closer.

This behavior is a result of Coulomb's law, which states that the force between two charged objects is proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. When charges are unlike, the force acts towards each other, leading to attraction.

The other options describe different interactions: like charges repel each other, hence they wouldn't attract; neutralization applies to opposite charges in contact but doesn’t occur when they’re apart; and stating there is no effect on each other contradicts the fundamental principles of charge interaction. Therefore, in scenarios involving unlike charges, the correct outcome is their attraction to one another.