1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Definition: Coulomb's Law calculates the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two charged particles.

Purpose: It helps physicists and engineers determine the force between charged objects, fundamental in electromagnetism.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electrical 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: The force is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

3. Importance of Electrical Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electrical forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, atomic physics, and materials science.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the charges have opposite signs?
A: The calculator uses absolute values, but remember opposite charges attract while like charges repel.

Q2: What's the value of Coulomb's constant (k)?
A: \( k = 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \) in a vacuum.

Q3: What are typical charge values?
A: Elementary charge is 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic objects may have charges in microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C) or more.

Q4: How does distance affect the force?
A: Force decreases with the square of distance - doubling distance reduces force to 1/4.

Q5: Does this work for point charges only?
A: The formula is exact for point charges and approximately valid for spherical charges if r >> their radii.