Coulomb’s Law

It states that the force, F between two point charges Q1 and Q 2 is:

i. Along the line joining them

ii. Directly proportional to the product of the two charges

Q1 and Q2 (i.e., F α Q1 Q2 )

iii. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R

1
between them (i.e, F α )
R2

Q1 Q2

SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof R 1

Mathematically, F α Q1 Q2
1
Fα
R2
Q1 Q 2
Fα
R2
where k = proportionality constant, m/F
Q 1 Q2
F=k N
N R2 ε = ε0 εr
1 ε = permittivity of the
k= m/F
4πε medium
1 ε0 = absolute permittivity
= 10 −9
4π x = 8.854 x 10 -12 F/m
36π
10−9
=9x 109 m/F = F/m
36π
εr = relative permittivity,
Q1 Q2 Or Q1 Q2 = 1 for air (free space)
F=
4πε R2
N F = 9 x109 N
R2 Scalar form
2
SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof
 𝐅ത𝟐𝟏 Q1
Vector form:
If point charges Q1 and Q2 are ഥ 𝟏𝟐
𝐑
Located at points having position
𝐫ത𝟏 Q2
vectors 𝐫𝟏ҧ and 𝐫𝟐ҧ , then the force 𝐅ത𝟏𝟐
on Q2 due to Q1 , shown in figure,
𝐫ത𝟐 𝐅ത𝟏𝟐
is given by,
Origin
Q1 Q2
𝐅ത𝟏𝟐 = 4πε0 R2
𝐚ത𝐑𝟏𝟐 Vector form
ഥ 12
R
where, aത R12 = ഥ 12 = rҧ 2 - rҧ1 and
&R ഥ 12 = R
R
ഥ 12
R
Q Q ഥ 12
R Q1 Q2 rത2 − rത1 Q1 Q2
Therefore, Fത 12 = 1 2 2 x = x = x (rҧ 2 − rҧ1 )
4πε0 R ഥ 12
R 4πε0 R2 R 4πε0 R3
Q Q (rത − rത )
Fത 12 = 1 2 ത 2 ത 1 3
4πε0 r2 − r1

SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 3

It is worthwhile to note that:

• The force, Fത 21 = Fത 12 aത R21 = Fത 12 (- aത R12 )

or Fത 21 = - Fത 12 since, aത R21 = - aത R12

• Like charges repel and unlike charges attract each other

+ + - - + -
• The distance R between the charged bodies Q1 and Q2 must be large compared
with the linear dimensions of the bodies; i.e., Q1 and Q2 must be point charges

• Q1 and Q2 must be static (at rest) R

• The signs of Q1 and Q2 must be taken into account. For like charges Q1 Q2 > 0

and for un-like charges Q1 Q2 < 0

SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 4
Applications of Coulomb’s law:

• Find the force between the pair of charges

• Find the potential at a point due to fixed charge

• Find the electric field at a point due to fixed charge

• Find the displacement flux density indirectly

• Find the potential and electric field due to any type of charge distribution

• Find the charge if the force and electric field are known
Limitations of Coulomb’s law:
• Charges must be at rest

• If the charges are in arbitrary shape, it is difficult to apply the coulomb’s

law SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 5