Which of the following statements correctly explains/explain the existence of a positive force between two electric charges? 1. Both the charges are positive. 2. Both the charges are negative. 3. Both the charges are oppositely charged. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

According to Coulomb's law, the electrostatic force between two point charges is proportional to the product of their charges. By convention, like charges (both positive or both negative) repel each other, while unlike charges attract. Mathematically, when both charges have the same sign (positive-positive or negative-negative), the product of the charges is positive, resulting in a positive force value. This positive result signifies a repulsive force. Conversely, if the charges are oppositely charged (one positive and one negative), their product is negative, indicating an attractive force. Therefore, a positive force exists when both charges are positive (Statement 1) or both are negative (Statement 2), as both scenarios involve like charges that repel [1]. Statement 3 describes an attractive force, which corresponds to a negative force value in the standard convention.

Sources

1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > Activity 5.7: Let us experiment > p. 71