1. What is Electric Force in Physics?

Definition: Electric force is the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged particles, described by Coulomb's Law.

Purpose: This calculator helps determine the magnitude of the electric force between two point charges.

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)
• \( q_1, q_2 \) — Electric charges (Coulombs)
• \( r \) — Distance between charges (meters)

Explanation: The force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

3. Importance of Electric Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electric forces is fundamental in electromagnetism, electronics, atomic physics, and many engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the two charges in Coulombs (can be positive or negative) and the distance between them in meters. Distance must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative force value mean?
A: The calculator shows magnitude only. Negative values in physics indicate attractive force between opposite charges.

Q2: What's the value of Coulomb's constant?
A: \( k = 8.9875517923 \times 10^9 \) N m²/C² (approximated as 8.99×10⁹ in this calculator).

Q3: Does this work for point charges only?
A: Yes, the formula is exact for point charges. For distributed charges, integration is needed.

Q4: How small can the distance be?
A: The formula works down to about 10⁻¹⁵m (nuclear scale), beyond which quantum effects dominate.

Q5: What's a typical charge value?
A: Electron charge is 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C. 1 Coulomb is a very large charge in atomic terms.