An electric field from a charge has a magnitude of 1.5 × 104 n/c at a certain location that points inward. if another charge with a magnitude of +3.0 × 10−6 c is brought near it, what is the strength of the electrostatic force that acts on this charge and how do the two charges behave?

-0.045 N, they will attract each other

Explanation:

The strength of the electrostatic force exerted on a charge is given by

where

q is the magnitude of the charge

E is the electric field magnitude

In this problem,

(negative because inward)

So the strength of the electrostatic force is

Moreover, the charge will be attracted towards the source of the electric field. In fact, the text says that the electric field points inward: this means that the source charge is negative, so the other charge (which is positive) is attracted towards it.