Two identical point charges q=5.0μC are kept 0.20m apart in kerosene whose relative permittivity is 2.0.
a. (i) Determine the magnitude of the electrostatic force between the charges in kerosene.
b. (ii) The separation between the charges is now reduced to 0.10m while the medium remains the same. Calculate the new magnitude of the force.
c. (iii) Find the ratio of the force obtained in part (ii) to that in part (i), and comment on the dependence of electrostatic force on separation.