Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A charge of and a charge of are m apart in air. What is the force between them? What is the force if they are moved to m apart? What is the force if they are m apart in oil, with a dielectric constant of ?
In a medium the force is divided by the dielectric constant . The force on each charge has the same size, in opposite directions: like charges repel and unlike charges attract.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. In air. . The top is . The bottom is . So . The charges are unlike, so the force is an attraction.
Step 2. At twice the distance. becomes times larger, so .
Step 3. In oil. .
Answer: N, N and N.
Check. The force falls when the distance grows, and it falls when the medium is a better dielectric. All three numbers follow this rule.
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