Coulomb’s Law

Assignment 1

F = k q1q2 K= 9 x 10-9 N*m2/C2

d2

1. The electron and proton of a hydrogen atom are separated, on average, by a distance of about
5.3 x 10-11 m. The proton has a charge of +1.6 x 10-19 C and the electron has a charge of -1.6 x
-19
10 C. Find the magnitude of the electric force that each particle exerts. Is this an attractive or
repulsive force?
2. Two identical conducting spheres are placed with their centers 0.30 m apart. One is given a
charge of +1.2 x 10-9 C and the other is given a charge of +1.8 x 10-9 C. Find the electric force
exerted on one sphere by the other. Is this an attractive or repulsive force?
3. What is the electric force between a glass ball that has +2.5 µC of charge and a rubber ball
that has a charge of -5.0 µC when they are separated by a distance of 5.0 cm. Is this an attractive
or repulsive force?
4. Two packing peanuts become equally charges as they are poured from their packing box.
The force between the packing peanuts is 6.2 x 10-23 N when they are 2.5 cm apart. What is the
charge on each of the packing peanuts?
5. Two balloons are placed 25.0 m apart with one balloon having a charge of 5.00 µC and the
other balloon having a charge of -3.25 µC.

A) What is the electric force between them?

B) If the distance between is increased to 75.0 m and each charge is doubled, what will
be the new force?

6. A negative charge of -2.0 x 10-4 C and a positive charge of 8.0 x 10-4 C are separated by 0.30
m. What is the force between the two charges? Is this a repulsive or attractive force?
7. A) Calculate the magnitude of the electric force between Sphere A and Sphere B. Sphere A =
+6.0μC and is located 4.0 cm from Sphere B. Sphere B = -3.0 μC.
A B

C
B) Calculate the magnitude of the electric force between Sphere A and Sphere C. Sphere C =
+1.5 μC and is 3.0 cm directly beneath Sphere A.
8. In a vacuum, 2 particles have charges of q1 and q2, where q1 = +3.5 μC. They are separated
by a distance of 0.26 m and particle 1 experiences a force of 3.4 N. What is q2?
9. Two tiny conduction spheres are identical and carry charge of -20 μC and +50.0 μC. They
are separated by a distance of 2.50 cm. What is the magnitude of the force that each sphere
experiences? Is the force attractive or repulsive?