WELCOME TO PHYS 241!

Lecture 2:
Coulomb’s Law

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 Law of Conservation of Charge
• Charges can be separated.
• No charge is created or destroyed when
charges are separated.
• Total charge is constant in any process.
• Similar to the conservations laws for
energy, momentum, and angular
momentum.
 Basic Characteristics of Electrostatics
1. Effects of electrostatics are explained by a
physical quantity known as electric charge.
2. There are two types of charge, one called
positive and one called negative.
3. Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.
4. The force between charges decreases with
distance.
 The Sum of These Behaviors:
Coulomb’s Law
(analog: Newton’s Law of Gravity)

q1q2 1 q1q2
F k rˆ  rˆ
r2 4 0 r 2

1 N m 2
A2 s 4
k  9  109  0  8.85 1012
4 0 C2 kg m3
 Comparison of Coulomb’s Law
to Gravity
Coulomb’s Law Newton’s Law
⇓ ⇓
q1q2 m1m2
Felec  k 2
rˆ Fgrav  G 2 rˆ
r r
2 3
N m m
k  9 10 9
G  6.67 1011
C2 kg s 2
 Electric Force vs. Gravitational
Force for protons
A proton has mass 𝑚 = 1.67 × 10−27 kg and charge 𝑞 = 1.6 ×
10−19 C. Compare the magnitude of the electric repulsion
between two protons with the magnitude of the gravitational
attraction between them.

1 q1q2 m1m2
Felec  Fgrav G 2
4 0 r 2
r
2 3
N m m
k  9 109
G  6.67 1011
C2 kg s 2
There’s Just One Complication

Coulomb’s Law Newton’s Law

⇓ ⇓
q1, q2 can be + or – m1, m2 can only be +
QuickCheck 25.7
CQ1: The charge of sphere 2 is twice
that of sphere 1. Which vector below
shows the force of 2 on 1? (Assume the
magnitudes shown for answers B and D are
equivalent to the given F, answers A and E
are twice as large and C is half as large.)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
 CQ2: Coulomb’s Law II
F1 = 3N F2 = ? A) 3/4 N
Q Q
B) 3.0 N
If we increase one charge to 4Q, C) 12 N
what is the magnitude of F1?
D) 16 N
F1 = ? F2 = ? E) 48 N
4Q Q
 CQ 3 Proton and Electron

A proton and an electron A. in the middle

are held apart a distance
B. closer to the electron’s side
of 1 m and then let go.
Where would they meet? C. closer to the proton’s side

p e
 Principle of Superposition of
Electrostatic Forces
• The total electrostatic force on a charge in the
presence of multiple charges is simply the sum
of the forces from each charge considered
separately.
• Mathematically speaking:
Fq  q2  q3  q4   Fq  q2   Fq  q3   Fq  q4 
1 1 1 1

+ + + +
q1 q2 q3 q4
QuickCheck 25.9

CQ4: Which arrow best

represents the direction
of the net force on the
charge at the lower left?

E. None of these.
QuickCheck 25.10

CQ5: Which arrow best

represents the direction
of the net force on the
charge at the top?

E. None of these.
 Problem-solving Question

Using the symmetry of the arrangement, show that the net

Coulomb force on the charge q at the center of the square is
zero if the charges on the four corners are exactly equal.
 CQ6: Electric Force I
Two balls with charges +Q and +4Q 1) yes, but only if Q0 is positive
are fixed at a separation distance of 2) yes, but only if Q0 is negative
3R. Is it possible to place another 3) yes, independent of the sign
charged ball Q0 on the line between (or value) of Q0
the two charges such that the net
4) no, the net force can never
force on Q0 will be zero?
be zero

+Q +4Q

3R
Where should a third charge 𝑄0 be placed (on the line
connecting the two charges) so that the net force on 𝑄0 is
zero?

+Q +4Q

3R
Where should a third charge 𝑄0 be placed (on the line
connecting the two charges) so that the net force on 𝑄0 is
zero?

+Q +4Q

3R
 Suggested Reading
• From today: 21.3
• For next time: 21.4, 21.6