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Law Of Electric Force Formula

Coulomb's Law Formula:

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

C
C
m

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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 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 electric force between two point charges.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

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

Where:

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 Coulomb's Law

Details: This fundamental law of electromagnetism explains electrostatic phenomena and is crucial for understanding atomic structure, chemical bonding, and electrical engineering principles.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the values for both charges in Coulombs and their separation distance in meters. Note that 1 Coulomb is a very large charge - typical values are often in microcoulombs (μC) or nanocoulombs (nC).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the value of Coulomb's constant (k)?
A: The exact value is 8.9875517923×10⁹ N m²/C², often rounded to 8.99×10⁹ N m²/C² for calculations.

Q2: Does the calculator account for charge signs?
A: No, it calculates the magnitude of force only. Like charges repel (+ result), opposite charges attract (- result).

Q3: What if my charges are very small?
A: The calculator accepts scientific notation (e.g., 1.6e-19 for electron charge).

Q4: Is this valid for point charges only?
A: Yes, the formula applies exactly to point charges or spherically symmetric charge distributions.

Q5: How does medium affect the force?
A: In other media, divide the result by the relative permittivity (dielectric constant) of the medium.

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