AFOQT Practice Test

What is a key property of an electric charge in relation to other charges?

1. Like charges attract each other

2. Opposite charges repel each other

3. Like charges repel each other

4. Opposite charges attract each other

The correct answer is: Opposite charges attract each other

The key property of electric charges is that opposite charges attract each other. This principle is fundamental to understanding electric forces and interactions within the field of electrostatics. It indicates that when two objects carry charges of opposite signs—one positive and the other negative—they experience a force that pulls them together. This attraction is responsible for many physical phenomena, from the behavior of charged particles in atoms to the interaction of different materials. Understanding that like charges repel each other provides clarity about why opposite charges exhibit attraction. When two charges are of the same type, they push away from each other, while different types create a bonding effect. The attraction of opposite charges leads to a range of applications in technology and natural phenomena, reinforcing the concept as a cornerstone of electrical science.