COULOMBS LAW

The electrostatic force of interaction between any two

point charges is directly proportional to the product of the
magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between the charges.

COULOMBS LAW IN VECTOR FORM

Suppose two similar charges q1 and q2 are placed at points 1
and 2 with the position vectors and . As per Coulombs law,
the force on q2 applied by q1 will be

where is the unit vector in the direction from 1 to 2.

Similarly, force on q1 applied by q2 is

where is unit vector in the direction from 2 to 1.

is equal in magnitude and opposite in the direction of the vector .

Some important points regarding coulombs law

1. Electrostatic force is a conservative force i.e., work done by this force is path
independent and only depends on initial and final positions.
2. Electrostatic force is a central force, in the absence of any other external force, angular
momentum of one particle with respect to the other particle (in two particle system) is
conserved.
3. It follows inverse square law.
4. Electrostatic interaction may be attractive or repulsive.
5. Electrostatic force is medium dependent i.e., this force depends on the nature of medium
in between the two charges.
6. It follows superposition principle.
7. Electrostatic interaction is much stronger than the gravitation force.