What happens to the electric force as the distance between charged objects increases?

Prepare for the SACE Stage 2 Physics Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready with precision!

The electric force between charged objects is described by Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two point charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance between the charged objects increases, the electric force decreases rapidly. Specifically, if the distance is doubled, the force is reduced to one-fourth of its original value.

This rapid decrease in force is due to the nature of the inverse square relationship; as the separation increases, the effect of each charge on the other diminishes significantly. Therefore, the correct choice indicates that the electric force decreases rapidly as the distance increases.

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