1. What is the Electric Force Formula?

Definition: This calculator computes the electric force exerted on a charge in an electric field using the formula F = q × E.

Purpose: It helps students and professionals in physics and electrical engineering calculate the force experienced by a charged particle in an electric field.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electric force (Newtons, N)
• \( q \) — Electric charge (Coulombs, C)
• \( E \) — Electric field strength (Newtons per Coulomb, N/C)

Explanation: The force experienced by a charged particle is directly proportional to both the magnitude of its charge and the strength of the electric field.

3. Importance of Electric Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electric forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, analyzing particle behavior in fields, and solving problems in electrostatics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the charge in Coulombs and electric field strength in N/C. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the charge is negative?
A: The calculator uses absolute values. A negative charge would experience force in the opposite direction to the field.

Q2: What's a typical charge value?
A: Elementary charge is ~1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic objects might have charges in microcoulombs (µC) to millicoulombs (mC).

Q3: What are common electric field strengths?
A: Earth's field is ~100 N/C downward. Breakdown field in air is ~3×10⁶ N/C. Lab fields are often 10³-10⁶ N/C.

Q4: How does this relate to Coulomb's Law?
A: This is the force on a charge in an external field. Coulomb's Law calculates fields created by other charges.

Q5: What units should I use?
A: Use SI units - Coulombs for charge and N/C for field strength for consistent results in Newtons.