What happens when two positively charged particles are placed next to each other?

• A. The charges will attract
• B. The charges will repel
• C. They will cancel each other
• D. One will move toward negative charge

Answer: (B)

Two positively charged objects push away from each other. Like charges create electric fields that point outward from each charge, so a second positive charge placed nearby experiences a force in the same outward direction from the first. This repulsive interaction grows weaker with distance as described by Coulomb’s law, F = k |q1 q2| / r^2. Since both charges are positive, the product q1 q2 is positive, giving a repulsive force along the line joining them. They will move apart if free to do so. The other statements don’t fit because attraction requires opposite signs, cancellation isn’t how charges interact, and moving toward a negative charge would require a nearby opposite charge, which isn’t the scenario described.