How Does Mass Affect Electromagnetic Attraction and Repulsion?

[_PJ_]

First:
Since photons carry electromagnetic force between charged particles, and the gravitational force is presumably separate (at least at typical energy levels) then is it correct that an object's mass is irrelevant in considering electronic(electromagnetic) attraction/repulsion?
i.e. an electron and positron would attract with the same energies as would an electron/proton or proton/antiprotron etc.?

Secondly,
What are the relationships that describe the strength of electromagnetic forces in terms of distance and charge?

 

[Vailanor]

Answer: First: Yes, it is correct that an object's mass is irrelevant in considering electronic (electromagnetic) attraction/repulsion. The strength of the electromagnetic force between two charged particles is determined by their charges and the distance between them, regardless of their masses. Secondly, The relationship that describes the strength of the electromagnetic force in terms of distance and charge is Coulomb's Law. This law states that the electrical force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically, this can be expressed as: F = k*(q1*q2)/r2, where F represents the electric force between the two charges, q1 and q2 represent the charges of the two particles, r represents the distance between the two particles, and k is a constant known as the Coulomb's constant.