Charles Augustin de Coulomb's inverse-square law for electric force an…

Question

Charles Augustin de Coulomb's inverse-square law for electric force and Newton's inverse-square law for gravity share the same mathematical form. Which statement correctly compares the two constants and the two kinds of source quantity involved?

Accepted Answer

D. Coulomb's constant k is far larger than Newton's G, and charge comes in two signs while mass does not

1. G is much, much smaller than k, so k is the larger of the two constants.
2. It also states that two types of electric charge exist, while only one type of mass exists.
3. Together these two differences explain why gravity is always attractive and comparatively weak, while the electric force can be attractive or repulsive and is much stronger.
4. Option B wrongly equates the two constants, and option C wrongly gives mass two signs, which is the trap in this comparison.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "Static Electricity", section 18.2 Coulomb's law_

Answer

Coulomb's constant k is far smaller than Newton's G, and charge comes in two signs while mass does not

Answer

Coulomb's constant k equals Newton's G, and both charge and mass come in two signs

Answer

Coulomb's constant k is far larger than Newton's G, and both charge and mass come in two signs