Do unlike charges repel each other?

Unlike charges do not repel each other; instead, they attract. In the realm of electrostatics, the fundamental principle is that opposite charges (such as a positive charge and a negative charge) experience a force of attraction due to the electromagnetic force. This attraction occurs because unlike charges seek to neutralize each other, leading to a pull together.

The concept that unlike charges attract is crucial in understanding basic electric phenomena. For example, this principle is behind the behavior of charged objects and the formation of stable atomic structures, where protons and electrons are held together by their opposite charges.

On the other hand, like charges, which share the same sign, do repel each other. This is critical in distinguishing behaviors in electric interactions. Understanding the fundamental nature of charge interactions helps explain various applications, from static electricity to the operation of electrical devices.