1. What is Coulomb's Law Force Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges using Coulomb's Law.

Purpose: It helps students, physicists, and engineers determine the electric force between charged particles.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Force magnitude (Newtons)
• \( k_e \) — 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 Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electrostatic forces is crucial for designing electrical systems, studying atomic interactions, and many physics applications.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Coulomb's constant?
A: It's approximately 8.988×10⁹ N·m²/C² and represents the electric force between two 1 Coulomb charges 1 meter apart.

Q2: Does the sign of charges matter for magnitude?
A: No, the magnitude calculation uses absolute values. Signs only determine if the force is attractive or repulsive.

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

Q4: Why is distance squared in the formula?
A: This inverse-square law reflects how electric field strength diminishes with distance from a point charge.

Q5: Is this valid for any distance?
A: The formula works for point charges at rest. For very small distances (atomic scales), quantum effects become significant.