Question

how are magnetic and electrostatic forces similar and how are they different?

Answer 1

Differences between electrostatic and magnetic forces are given below :
Electrostatic force :
1. Electric force acts on a charged particle at rest or in motion in any direction in electric field.
2. Electric force always acts on the charged particle in the direction of electric field.
Magnetic force :
1. No magnetic force acts on a charged particle at rest in magnetic field. Magnetic force acts on a moving charged particle only if it is not moving parallel to the direction of magnetic field.
2. Magnetic force always acts in a direction perpendicular to the direction of magnetic field as well as the direction of motion of charged particle.

Similarity between electrostatic and magnetic forces is given below :
The force is not experienced by a magnet when it is placed in an electric field.
Similarly, the force is not experienced by a stationary charge when it is placed in a magnetic field.