1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Definition: Coulomb's Law calculates the electric force between two charged particles.

Purpose: It helps physicists and engineers determine the magnitude of electrostatic force between charges.

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)
• \( q_1 \) — First charge (Coulombs)
• \( q_2 \) — Second charge (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 Electric Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electric forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, studying atomic structure, and developing technologies like capacitors.

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 does a negative force result mean?
A: Negative force indicates attraction between opposite charges, while positive indicates repulsion between like charges.

Q2: What's the value of Coulomb's constant (k)?
A: Approximately 8.99 × 10⁹ N m²/C² in a vacuum.

Q3: How does distance affect the force?
A: Force decreases with the square of the distance - doubling the distance reduces force to 1/4.

Q4: What units should I use?
A: Use Coulombs for charge, meters for distance, and results will be in Newtons.

Q5: Does this work for point charges only?
A: The formula is exact for point charges and approximately valid for spherical charges when r is much larger than their size.