The Coulomb force and the gravitational force both follow which of the following?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Inverse square law
Option (1) Attraction as well as repulsion — Incorrect. The Coulomb force can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the signs of the charges. But the gravitational force between two masses is always attractive.
Option (2) Inverse square law — Correct. Coulomb’s law is \( F=k\,q_1q_2/r^{2} \), and Newton’s law of gravitation is \( F=G\,m_1m_2/r^{2} \). In both laws, the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two point charges or point masses.
NCERT (2026-27):
Points to Ponder – “2. Coulomb force and gravitational force follow the same inverse-square law. But gravitational force has only one sign (always attractive), while Coulomb force can be of both signs (attractive and repulsive), allowing possibility of cancellation of electric forces.”