Coulomb's Law Calculator

Introduction

Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic interaction between electrically charged particles. It quantifies the amount of force between two stationary, electrically charged particles.

Coulomb's Law Formula

The magnitude of the electric force (F) between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The formula is given by:

Where:

• F is the magnitude of the electric force between the charges.
• k is Coulomb's constant, approximately $8.988 \times 10^9 \, \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{C}^2$.
• q₁ and q₂ are the amounts of the charges.
• r is the distance between the centers of the two charges.

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the electric force between two charges:

• Given:

  $q_1 = 4 \, \text{C}$, $q_2 = 4 \, \text{C}$, and $r = 4 \, \text{m}$.

• Apply Coulomb's Law:

  $F = 8.988 \times 10^9 \cdot \frac{|4 \cdot 4|}{4^2}$

• Calculate:

  $F = 8.988 \times 10^9 \cdot \frac{16}{16}$$F = 8.988 \times 10^9 \, \text{N}$

Therefore, the electric force between the two charges is approximately $8.988 \times 10^9 \, \text{N}$.

Applications of Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law is fundamental in understanding electrostatic interactions and is widely used in various fields, including:

• Physics and Engineering
• Chemistry and Molecular Biology
• Electrical Engineering and Electronics
• Material Science and Nanotechnology

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Coulomb's Law used for?

Coulomb's Law is used to calculate the electric force between two charged particles. It is essential for understanding electrostatic interactions in various scientific and engineering applications.

2. How does distance affect the electric force between charges?

According to Coulomb's Law, the electric force between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance increases, the force decreases rapidly.

3. Can Coulomb's Law be used for charges in motion?

Coulomb's Law applies to stationary charges. For charges in motion, electromagnetic forces become more complex and are described by the full set of Maxwell's equations.

Conclusion

Coulomb's Law is a cornerstone in the study of electrostatics, providing a quantitative measure of the electric force between charged particles. Understanding and applying this law is essential for advancements in physics, engineering, and various technological fields.

Try It Yourself

Use the calculator above to compute the electric force between different sets of charges. Input various charge values and distances to see how the electric force changes, enhancing your understanding of electrostatic interactions.