How To Calculate Force Between 2 Charges

Coulomb's Law:

\[ F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2} \]

Electrostatic Force (F):

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1. What Is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic force between two charged particles. It states that the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law:

\[ F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2} \]

Where:

\( F \) — Electrostatic force (Newtons)
\( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.99 × 10⁹ N·m²/C²)
\( q_1 \) — Charge of first particle (Coulombs)
\( q_2 \) — Charge of second particle (Coulombs)
\( r \) — Distance between charges (meters)

Explanation: Like charges repel (positive force), opposite charges attract (negative force). The force decreases rapidly with increasing distance.

3. Importance Of Electrostatic Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electrostatic forces is fundamental to electromagnetism, atomic physics, and electrical engineering. It helps predict interactions between charged particles in various applications.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter charges in Coulombs (can be positive or negative), distance in meters. Distance must be greater than zero. The calculator shows both magnitude and direction of the force.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What Is Coulomb's Constant?
A: Coulomb's constant (k) is approximately 8.99 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² and relates the electrostatic force between charges to their magnitudes and separation distance.

Q2: How Does Distance Affect The Force?
A: The force decreases with the square of the distance. Doubling the distance reduces the force to one-quarter of its original value.

Q3: What Are Typical Charge Values?
A: Elementary charge is 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C. Most practical charges range from microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C) to millicoulombs (10⁻³ C).

Q4: Can The Force Be Negative?
A: The magnitude is always positive, but the direction indicates attraction (opposite charges) or repulsion (like charges).

Q5: What Are Real-World Applications?
A: Used in capacitor design, particle accelerators, electrostatic precipitators, and understanding atomic structure and chemical bonding.