Question

Difference between gravitational force and electrostatic force

Answer 1

The differences are:

1. Electrostatic force is force between two charges separated by distance in space while gravitational force is the force between two masses separated by a distance.
2. Electrostatic force is either repulsive or attractive while gravitational force is always attractive.
3. Two charges 1 coulomb each separated by a distance 1 meter in space is will attract or repulse with a force of 9×10⁹N while two masses each of 1kg separated by a distance 1m will attracted by a force of 6.67×10^-11N. That is gravitational force is much weaker than electrostatic force.
4. Electrostatic arises due to influence of electric field on a charge mediated by photons while gravitational force arises due to curvature of space by the presence of mass.