1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Definition: Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic force between two charged particles. The force is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Purpose: This fundamental law helps calculate the magnitude of electric force in physics, engineering, and electrical applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electric force (Newtons)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.99 × 10⁹ N m²/C²)
• \( q_1 \) — First charge (Coulombs)
• \( q_2 \) — Second charge (Coulombs)
• \( r \) — Distance between charges (meters)

Explanation: The force increases with larger charges and decreases rapidly with increasing distance.

3. Importance of Coulomb's Law

Details: Understanding electric forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, studying atomic structure, and explaining fundamental physical phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both charges in Coulombs (1 electron charge = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C) and the distance in meters. Distance must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the charges have opposite signs?
A: The calculator gives magnitude only. Opposite charges attract (negative force), like charges repel (positive force).

Q2: Why is k so large numerically?
A: The large value compensates for the typically very small charge values in Coulombs.

Q3: How does distance affect the force?
A: Force follows an inverse-square law - doubling distance reduces force to 1/4 of original.

Q4: What are typical charge values?
A: Everyday static electricity might involve microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C), while electrons have 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.

Q5: Does this work for point charges only?
A: The formula is exact for point charges and good approximations for spherical charges at large distances.