What happens to like charges and opposite charges according to electrostatics?

• A. Like charges attract and opposite charges repel
• B. Like charges repel and opposite charges attract
• C. Both repel each other
• D. Both attract each other

Answer: (B)

In electrostatics, the behavior of charges is governed by fundamental principles. Like charges, which can be either both positive or both negative, will repel each other. This means that if you have two positively charged objects or two negatively charged objects, they will push away from one another due to the repulsive force acting between them.

On the other hand, opposite charges—one positive and one negative—will attract each other. This attraction occurs because positive charges have a tendency to draw in negative charges, leading to a strong interaction that causes them to come closer.

Thus, the correct understanding is that like charges repel one another while opposite charges attract. This foundational concept is critical in understanding the forces at play in electric fields and interactions between charged particles.