What principle explains that opposite electric charges attract while like charges repel?

The principle of electrostatics explains that opposite electric charges attract while like charges repel. This principle is fundamental in understanding how electric forces operate based on the nature of electric charges. According to electrostatics, charged particles generate electric fields, and the interaction of these fields determines the behavior of the charges.

When two charges are of opposite types, such as a positive charge and a negative charge, they create electric fields that attract each other. This attraction occurs because the fields interact in a way that pulls the two charges together. Conversely, when two charges are of the same type, such as two positive charges or two negative charges, their electric fields interact in such a manner that they repel each other, pushing them apart.

This concept is essential in various applications, from understanding basic interactions between charged particles to explaining phenomena such as static electricity, lightning, and even the behavior of atoms in molecules.