Magnitude Of Electric Force Calculator

Coulomb's Law:

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

Electric Force (F):

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1. What Is The Magnitude Of Electric Force?

The magnitude of electric force describes the strength of the electrostatic interaction between two charged particles. It follows Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law:

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

Where:

\( F \) — Electric force magnitude (N)
\( k \) — Coulomb's constant = 8.98755×10⁹ N·m²/C²
\( q_1, q_2 \) — Electric charges (C)
\( r \) — Distance between charges (m)

Explanation: The absolute value ensures we calculate the magnitude regardless of charge signs. The force is attractive for opposite charges and repulsive for like charges.

3. Importance Of Electric Force Calculation

Details: Understanding electric force magnitude is fundamental in electromagnetism, atomic physics, electrical engineering, and chemistry. It helps predict particle interactions, design electrical systems, and understand molecular bonding.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter charges in coulombs and distance in meters. Use scientific notation for very small or large values. Distance must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Coulomb's constant?
A: Coulomb's constant (k) is approximately 8.98755×10⁹ N·m²/C² and relates to the permittivity of free space.

Q2: Does the calculator consider charge signs?
A: This calculator computes magnitude only. For direction, remember like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Q3: What are typical charge values?
A: Elementary charge is 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic objects can have charges from microcoulombs to coulombs.

Q4: When is Coulomb's Law applicable?
A: For point charges or spherically symmetric charge distributions in vacuum or air. For other media, divide by the dielectric constant.

Q5: How does distance affect the force?
A: Force decreases with the square of distance - doubling distance reduces force to one-quarter.