Coulomb’s Law

Describe Determine the Solves

Coulomb’s important problems
Law. concepts of involving
Coulomb’s Law Coulomb’s Law

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Introduction of
Coulomb’s Law
Charles Augustin de Coulomb

French physicist best known for the

formulation of Coulomb’s law

It was studied and first published in

1783 and was essential for the
development of the theory of
electromagnetism.

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5
 Charged Object
Charged Object Magnitude of two objects

ELECTRIC FORCE

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What is Coulomb’s Law?
 Electric Force between
Coulomb's law is a law charged objects
of physics describing the
The repulsive or attractive interaction
electrostatic interaction
between any two charged bodies is
between electrically
called as an electric force.
charged particles.

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Attraction Repulsion
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Take Note!
The basic standard unit of charge is called a Coulomb (C).

The symbol for charge is Q however q is used as well.

One Coulomb is equal to the charge of 6.25 x 1018

electrons or protons.

The charge of a single electron is - 1.60 x 10-19 C. The

charge of a proton is + 1.60 x 10-19 C.

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 Take Note!
Coulomb's law states that the force between two point charges
Q1 and Q2 is:

1. Along the line joining them

2. Directly proportional to the product Q1Q2 of the charges
3. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R between
them.

Expressed
mathematically,

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Let’s Solve!
Example 1
A charge of – 2.0 C and a charge of 3.0 C are separated by 80m.
What is the force between the two charges?
109 𝑁𝑚2
(9 𝑋 )(2.0𝐶)(3.0𝐶) (54 𝑋109 𝑁𝑚2 )
𝐹= 𝐶2 𝐹=
(80𝑚)2 6400𝑚2

109 𝑁𝑚2 54 𝑋109 𝑁

(9 𝑋 )(6.0𝐶 2) 𝐹=
𝐶 2 6400
𝐹=
(80𝑚)2 54 𝑋109 𝑁
𝑞1 = -2.0C 𝐹=
6.4 𝑥 103
𝑞2 = 3.0C 109 𝑁𝑚2
(54𝐶 2 𝑋 )
𝐹= 𝐶2
r = 80m (80𝑚)2 𝑭 = 𝟖. 𝟒𝟑𝟕𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑵
(54 𝑋109 𝑁𝑚2)
𝐹=
(80𝑚)2 13
Example 2
A charge of 4.0 x 10−5C and a charge of 7.0 x 10−5C are separated by 0.15m. What is
the force between the two charges?
109 𝑁𝑚2
(9 𝑋 )(4.0 x 10−5 C )(7.0 x 10−5 C ) (252 𝑋10−1 𝑁𝑚2 )
𝐹= 𝐶2 𝐹=
(0.15m )2 0.0225𝑚2
252 𝑋10−1𝑁
109 𝑁𝑚2 𝐹=
(9 𝑋 2 )(28.0 x 10−10 𝐶 2 ) 0.0225
𝐹= 𝐶
(0.15m )2 252 𝑋10−1𝑁
𝑞1 = 4.0 x 10−5C 𝐹=
10−1 𝐶 2𝑁𝑚2 2.25 × 10−2
𝑞2 = 7.0 x 10−5 C (252 𝑋
𝐶2
)

r = 0.15m
𝐹=
(0.15m)2 𝑭 = 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝑵
(252 𝑋10−1 𝑁𝑚2 )
𝐹=
(0.15m)2 14
Example 3
A force of 3.24 x 10−10 N exists between a +18 charge and another mystery particle.
The ions are 2.53 x 10−8 m apart. What is the charge of the mystery particle?

𝐾𝑄1 𝑄2
𝐹=
r2

𝐾𝑄1 𝑄2 = 𝐹r2
F = 3.24 x 10−10
𝑞1 = 18 C 𝐹r2
r = 2.53 x 10−8 m 𝑄2 =
𝐾𝑄1

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 𝐹r2
𝑄2 = 162 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚2
𝐾𝑄1 𝑄2 = (2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 ) ÷ ( )
𝐶
(3.24 x 10−10 N)(2.53 x 10−8 m)2 𝐶
𝑄2 = 𝑄2 = (2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 ) × ( )
109 𝑁𝑚2 162 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚2
(9 𝑋 )(18𝐶)
𝐶2 𝐶
𝑄2 = (2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 ) × ( )
(3.24 x 10−10 N)(6.4009x 10−16 𝑚2 ) 162 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚2
𝑄2 =
109 𝑁𝑚2
(9 𝑋 )(18𝐶) (2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 ) C
𝐶2 𝑄2 =
162 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚2
(20.738916 x 10−26 N𝑚2 ) (2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 ) C
𝑄2 = 𝑄2 =
109 𝑁𝑚2 162 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚2
(9 𝑋 )(18𝐶)
𝐶2
(2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 )
𝑄2 =
(9 𝑋
109 𝑁𝑚2
)(18𝐶)
𝑸𝟐 = 0.0128018 x 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟒 𝑪
𝐶2
(2.0738916 x 10−25 N𝑚2 )
𝑄2 =
109 𝑁𝑚2
(162 𝑋 )
𝐶 16