Electrostatic force and gravitational force differ in which respect?A) Conservative forceB) Central forceC) Principle of superposition.D) Dependence on the intervening medium

Correct Answer: D) Dependence on the intervening medium
1. Electrostatic Force:
o The electrostatic force between two charges depends on the nature of the intervening medium.
o Its magnitude is given by Coulomb's law: Fe=14πε⋅q1q2r2F_e = \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon} \cdot \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2} Here, ε\varepsilon is the permittivity of the medium. The force decreases if the medium has a higher permittivity than a vacuum (e.g., water or glass).
2. Gravitational Force:
o The gravitational force between two masses does not depend on the intervening medium.
o It is given by Newton's law of gravitation: Fg=G⋅m1m2r2F_g = G \cdot \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} Here, GG is the gravitational constant and is the same in all mediums, meaning gravitational force is unaffected by the surrounding material.
3. Similarities:
o Both forces are conservative forces (work done is path-independent and can be stored as potential energy).
o Both are central forces, acting along the line joining the centers of the interacting objects.
o Both obey the principle of superposition, where the net force is the vector sum of all individual forces acting on a body.
4. Difference:
o The primary difference lies in their dependence on the intervening medium:
 Electrostatic force depends on the permittivity of the medium.
 Gravitational force does not depend on the medium and remains unchanged.
Thus, D) Dependence on the intervening medium is the correct answer.