1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Definition: Coulomb's Law calculates the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges.

Purpose: It helps physicists and engineers determine the electric force in systems with charged particles.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electric force (Newtons)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.988×10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( q_1, q_2 \) — Electric charges (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, analyzing atomic structures, and developing electronic devices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the two charges in Coulombs (can be positive or negative) and the distance between them in meters. Distance must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the charges have opposite signs?
A: The calculator uses absolute values, so it gives the magnitude of the force. The direction would be attractive for opposite charges.

Q2: What's a typical charge value?
A: Elementary charge is ~1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic objects might have charges in microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C) to millicoulombs (10⁻³ C).

Q3: Why is distance squared in the formula?
A: This reflects the inverse-square law nature of electric fields, where force decreases rapidly with distance.

Q4: What are the units of Coulomb's constant?
A: The constant k has units of N·m²/C² to make the equation dimensionally consistent.

Q5: Does this work for point charges only?
A: The formula is exact for point charges. For extended objects, integration may be needed.