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electric force

/ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈfɔrs/
IPA guide

Other forms: electric forces

In physics, electric force is what exists between two charged objects. It's electric force that makes a balloon stick to your hair or gives you a tiny shock when you touch a doorknob after shuffling across the carpet.

Whenever two objects charged with electricity interact, it's evidence of the electric force between them. Plastic wrap clinging to a bowl, socks and towels clinging to each other as they're pulled from the dryer, and staticky hair standing straight up when a winter hat is removed — these are all caused by electric forces. The attraction or repulsion depends on whether the objects are positively or negatively charged, with opposite charges pulling toward each other and matching ones pushing one another away.

Definitions of electric force
  1. noun
    the attractive pull or repulsive push exerted when objects of opposite or like charges interact
    synonyms: electrical force
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