physics
Find the ratio of the electrostatic to gravitational force between two electrons.
4.16×1042
What is this ratio for two protons? (Why is the ratio different for electrons and protons?)
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Answers
The ratio for two protons is 8.31×1042. This ratio is different for electrons and protons because protons have a much greater mass than electrons. Since the electrostatic force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance, and the gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the distance, the ratio of electrostatic to gravitational force decreases with an increase in mass. This explains why the ratio is greater for electrons than protons.
