What force attracts opposite charges?

The force that attracts opposite charges is the electromagnetic force. This fundamental force acts between charged particles, such as electrons and protons. Opposite charges, such as a positive charge and a negative charge, create an attractive force due to the nature of electric fields and the interaction of charged particles.

In an electromagnetic context, negative charges are attracted to positive charges, which is why electrons orbit around protons in an atom. This attraction is essential for the formation of atoms and, consequently, the matter that makes up our universe. The electromagnetic force is also responsible for other phenomena like electricity, magnetism, and the interactions of atoms and molecules.

In contrast, the gravitational force acts between masses and is not related to electric charges. Centrifugal force is not a true force but rather an apparent effect experienced in a rotating reference frame, and centripetal force is the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directing it towards the center of rotation. Thus, while these forces have important roles in physics, they do not govern the interactions between charged particles like the electromagnetic force does.