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: It helps physicists and engineers calculate the attractive or repulsive force between charged objects.

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)
• \( q_1 \) — 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 for designing electrical systems, analyzing atomic structures, and developing technologies like capacitors and semiconductors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both charges in Coulombs (1 electron = 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C) and the distance in meters. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative force value mean?
A: The calculator shows magnitude only. In reality, positive values indicate repulsion while negative values indicate attraction between opposite charges.

Q2: What's the value of Coulomb's constant?
A: \( k \) is approximately 8.99×10⁹ N m²/C² in a vacuum. It may vary slightly in different media.

Q3: How small of a charge can this calculate?
A: The calculator can handle charges as small as individual electrons (1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C).

Q4: 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 diameters.

Q5: How does distance affect the force?
A: Force decreases with the square of distance - doubling the distance reduces force to 1/4 of original value.