3/21/24, 4:31 PM [Gujrati] Write Coulomb's law and explain its scalar form.

The electric force between two point charges varied inversely as the square of the
distance between the charges and was directly proportional to the product of the
magnitude of the two charges and acted along the line joining the two charges.

Thus, if two point charges are separated by a distance r in vacuum, the magnitude
q1 , q2

of the force (F) between them is given by,

q1 q2
F =
2
r

q1 . q2
∴ F = k
2
r

∴ F = k ....................(1)
q1 . q2

r
2

where, fcis the proportionality constant also called Coulombian constant.

Experimentally it is found that . In general, it is taken as
k = 8.9875 × 10 N m C
9 2 −2

k = 9 × 10 N m C
9
. 2 −2

1
⇒ K =
4πε0

Where, = permittivity in free space

ε0

− 12 2 −1 −2
= 8.9 × 10 C N m

Hence, electric force is free space,

F =
4πε0
1
.......... (2)
q1 q2

r2

If the charges are at distance V in any mediui instead of free space, then electric force i
medium,
where, = permittivity in medium.
ε

⇒ Now, relartive permittivity dielectric constant.

= er =
ε

e00 = k

⇒ By taking rato of equation (3) to (2)

Fm ε0 1
= =
F ε k

F
∴ Fm =
k

Thus, electric force between two charges is medium is 7- times the electric force in
1

https://www.doubtnut.com/qna/614517082 4/13