Force Formula With Distance

Coulomb's Law Formula:

\[ F = k \times \frac{q_1 \times q_2}{r^2} \]

Electric Force (F):

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

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

\[ F = k \times \frac{q_1 \times q_2}{r^2} \]

Where:

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

Explanation: The force is calculated by multiplying Coulomb's constant by the product of the two charges, then dividing by the square of the distance between them.

3. Importance of Coulomb's Law

Details: Understanding electrostatic forces is crucial in fields like physics, electrical engineering, and chemistry. It explains phenomena ranging from atomic structure to static electricity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the values for both charges in Coulombs and the distance between them in meters. The distance must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the value of Coulomb's constant?
A: The exact value is 8.9875517873681764 × 10⁹ N·m²/C², often approximated as 8.99 × 10⁹ N·m²/C².

Q2: Does the calculator account for charge signs?
A: No, this calculator only computes the magnitude of the force. Like charges repel (positive force), opposite charges attract (negative force).

Q3: What are typical charge values?
A: Elementary charge is 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic objects might have charges in microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C) to millicoulombs (10⁻³ C).

Q4: What if the distance is very small?
A: The force becomes extremely large at small distances. The formula assumes point charges and doesn't account for quantum effects at atomic scales.

Q5: How does the force change with distance?
A: The force follows an inverse square law - doubling the distance reduces the force to 1/4 of its original value.