1. What is Coulomb's Law?

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

Purpose: It helps physicists and engineers calculate the magnitude of electric force between charged objects.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electric 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 calculated by multiplying the charges and Coulomb's constant, then dividing by the squared distance.

3. Importance of Electric Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electric forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, analyzing atomic interactions, and developing technologies like capacitors and semiconductors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the two charges in Coulombs (can be very small values for elementary charges) and the distance in meters. Distance must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the value of Coulomb's constant?
A: \( k = 8.9875517923 \times 10^9 \) N m²/C² (approximately 8.99×10⁹).

Q2: How does distance affect the force?
A: The force decreases with the square of the distance (inverse square law).

Q3: What if the charges have opposite signs?
A: The calculator gives magnitude only. Opposite charges attract (negative force), like charges repel (positive force).

Q4: What's the charge of an electron?
A: Approximately -1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C (use positive value in calculator for magnitude).

Q5: How small can the distance be?
A: The equation works down to atomic scales, but quantum effects become important at very small distances.