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 the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electrical 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 is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of their separation distance.

3. Importance of Electrical Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electrical forces is crucial in fields like electronics, electromagnetism, and atomic physics. It helps design electrical systems and understand atomic interactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both charges in Coulombs (1 electron = 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C) and distance in meters. The calculator uses the standard value for Coulomb's constant.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the direction of the force?
A: The calculator gives magnitude only. Like charges repel, opposite charges attract.

Q2: Does this work for point charges only?
A: Yes, the formula is exact for point charges. For distributed charges, integration is needed.

Q3: What if one charge is negative?
A: The calculator will still work. Negative values indicate electron charge.

Q4: How does medium affect the force?
A: In other media, divide by the relative permittivity (εᵣ) of the medium.

Q5: What's the range of validity?
A: The law works for atomic scales up to macroscopic distances where quantum effects are negligible.