Subject Code PHY 2 Physics 2

Module Code 7.0 Electrostatics

Lesson Code 7.2.1 Coulomb’s Law, Part 1: Activity
Time Frame 60 minutes

Components Tasks TA1 ATA2

(min) (min)

Target By the end of this learning guide, the student should be able to: 1
● calculate electric force using Coulomb’s law.

Hook For this activity, you will explore the interaction between charged 29
particles using an online simulation:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/coulombs-law/latest/coulomb
s-law_en.html

Once you get to the link, select the option “Macro Scale”.

You will then be diverted to the simulation page as shown below.

1
Time allocation suggested by the teacher.
2
Actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only).

Physics 2 Coulomb’s Law, Part 1 Page 1 of 4

 You are now ready to explore the simulation and perform the
tasks provided in part A-C of this activity guide.

Part A. Varying Separation Distance (r)

You can set the position of the charges by clicking on each one
and dragging it to the desired position using the ruler as a guide.
For this part, you will explore the interaction of the charged
particles as you vary the separation distance, r, between the
charges. The force vectors(→ or ←) depict the direction of the
force acting on each charge while the magnitude is also shown in
the simulation. Accomplish the table below as you explore the
simulation.

q1 q2 r Fq2 on q1 Fq1 on q2
(N) (N)

(µC) (µC) (cm) mag dir mag dir

+2.0 +2.0 2.00

+2.0 +2.0 4.00

+2.0 +2.0 6.00

+2.0 +2.0 8.00

Guide Questions for Analysis:

1. Does the strength of force acting on each charge increase or
decrease with increasing separation distance between the
charges?
2. Plot the force as a function of 1/r. Is the plot linear or
nonlinear?

Part B. Varying Signs of Charge

In this part, the separation distance between the charges are
maintained while varying the sign of the charges.

q1 q2 r Fq2 on q1 Fq1 on q2
(N) (N)

(µC) (µC) (cm) mag dir mag dir

+2.0 +2.0 4.00

+2.0 −2.0 4.00

−2.0 +2.0 4.00

−2.0 −2.0 4.00

Physics 2 Coulomb’s Law, Part 1 Page 2 of 4

 Guide Questions for Analysis:
1. In which cases are the charges attracting each other?
2. In which cases are the charges repelling each other?

Part C. Varying Amount of Charge

This time explore what happens to the force when the amount of
charges are varied while the distance of separation, r, is held
constant.

q1 q2 r Fq2 on q1 Fq1 on q2
(N) (N)

(µC) (µC) (cm) mag dir mag dir

1 +2.0 +2.0 4.00

2 +4.0 +2.0 4.00

3 +6.0 +2.0 4.00

4 +8.0 +2.0 4.00

5 +2.0 +4.0 4.00

6 +2.0 +6.0 4.00

7 +2.0 +8.0 4.00

8 +4.0 +4.0 4.00

9 +6.0 +6.0 4.00

10 +8.0 +8.0 4.00

Guide Questions for Analysis:

1. What happens to the strength of the force of interaction as
charge q1 increases?
2. What happens to the strength of the force of interaction as
charge q2 increases?
3. What happens to the strength of the force of interaction as
both charges increase?
4. Using the data from rows 1-4, plot force versus q1. Plot
force versus q2 using data from rows 1 and 5-7. Plot force
versus q1q2 using data from rows 1 and 8-10. Which of
these plots are linear and which are nonlinear?
5. From Parts A-C, how do the magnitudes of the force acting
on q1 and that acting on q2 compare?
6. How do the directions of these two forces compare?
7. Is it correct to say that the forces acting on each charge
comprise an action-reaction pair? Why?

Physics 2 Coulomb’s Law, Part 1 Page 3 of 4

References:
1. Interactive Simulation on Coulomb’s Law by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of
Colorado Boulder. Retrieved from: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/coulombs-law

Prepared by: Jacquelyn O. Mirasol Reviewed by: Sharon L.Palomares

Position: SST IV Position: SST V

Campus: Ilocos Region Campus Campus: Ilocos Region Campus

Physics 2 Coulomb’s Law, Part 1 Page 4 of 4