7.

2 Electric Forces: Coulomb’s Law

Physics Tool box

⮚ Coulomb’s Law –The magnitude of the electric force between two point
charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.
qq
⮚ 12

Fk
r
=.
2

⮚ k is the Coulomb proportionality Constant

Nmk
π C⋅
2
1
8.988 10
⮚ .
∈
==×9
2
0
4
⮚ Coulomb’s Law applies when the charges on the two spheres are very small,
and the two spheres are small compared to the distance between them. ⮚ There
are similarities between Coulomb’s Law and Newton’s Law of universal
Gravitation:
o Both are inverse squares laws that are proportional to the product of
quantities that characterize the body involved
o The gravitational force only attracts, while the electric force and
attract or repel.
o The universal gravitational constant is very small while the Coulomb
constant is very large.
kq q Gm m
FF
22 , Eg
==
o1 2 1 2
rr

The electric force between two point charges also depends on the quantity of charge on
each body, which is denoted at q. Coulomb found that the forces that two point charges
1 qand 2 qexert on each other are proportional to each charge and therefore proportional
to the product 1 2 qqof the two charges.

Coulomb’s Law –The magnitude of the electric force between two point charges is
directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.

qq
 12
Fk
r
= 2

Where k is the Coulomb Proportionality Constant whose numerical value depends on the
system of units used. The absolute value bars are used because the charges 1 qand 2 q
can be either positive or negative, while the force magnitude F is always positive.

Nmk
π C⋅
2
1
8.988 10
==×9
4
∈ 8.854 10 C
0 2
2
− 12
∈0(epsilon-nought) is × 2

permittivity of free ⋅N m
space =

Plastic rods and fur (real or fake) are typically used to demonstrate electrostatics.

We now that there are exactly two types of charges negative and positive

The Laws of Electric Charges – Two positive charges or two negative charges repel
each other. A positive charge and a negative charge attract each other

Example

The magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point like charged objects is
− 6
4.0 10 N
×. Calculate the force for each of the following situations:

a) The distance between objects is doubled

b) Distance remains same but charge on one object tripled and charge on other is cut
by 5.
c) Both a and b occur.

Solution:
kq q
12
2

⎛⎞
Frr
==⎜⎟
⎝⎠
2
212
a) 2
12

1
F r kq q
r ⎜⎟
2 ⎝⎠r
1
⎛⎞ 2
FF =
r

21 12
⎛⎞
=×⎜⎟ 4.0 10
⎝⎠ 2

() 1
−
6 1.0 10 N
−
=× N 6

The magnitude of the force is now 6

−
1.0 10 N
×
kqq
1
3
5
12

==
Fr FF=
2 F kq q 21
3 22
121 35
2 r
b) 1 ⎛⎞
5
 =×⎜⎟ 4.0 10
⎝⎠ 5

() 3
−
6 2.4 10 N
−
=× N 7

The magnitude of the force is now 7

−
2.4 10 N
×
kqq
1
3
5
12
⎛⎞
31
==⎜⎟
⎝⎠
2
Fr 2

c)
FF=
F kq q
⎛⎞
21
22 1

121
3
2 r
20
52
=×⎜⎟ 4.0 10
⎝⎠ 20

() 3
−
6 6.0 10 N
−
=× N 7

The magnitude of the force is now 7

−
6.0 10 N
×

Example

Three objects with charges A:+6.0μC, B: −5.0μC, and C: +4.0μCare placed in a line.
Determine the net electric force on charge A.
A
BC
+
-+
0.70m 0.30m
Solution:

The magnitude of the force exerted on A by C

kq q F
r
AC
AC 9.0 10 6.0 10 4.0 10 N
=
2 CC
⎛⎞
⎜⎟×⋅××
966

AC
2
m
−−
⎝⎠
( )( )
C 0.70 0.30 Charges are same
2
=
+
2
0.216 m sign so the forces
repels.
= (( ) ) N

Therefore the force on A by C is 0.216 N [left]

kq q F
The magnitude of the force exerted on A by B r
AB
AB 9.0 10 6.0 10 5.0 10 N
=
2 CC
⎛⎞
⎜⎟×⋅××
966

AB
2
m
−−
⎝⎠
( )( )
=
2
()
C 2
different sign so
= 0.5510 N the forces attract.
0.7 m
Charges are
Therefore the force on A by B is 0.551N [right]

∑  
F F F AC AB
So the net force on A is : N left N right
=+ 0.33 [ ]
=+
0.216 [ ] 0.551 [ ]
Example = N right

A neutral metal sphere A (0.10kg), hangs from an 2.0 m insulating wire. An identical
sphere B, with charge –q, is brought into contact with sphere A. The spheres repel each
other so that the angle of the wire is 12° . What was the initial charge on B

12°

BA

Solution:

First we must determine what the forces are that holds a 0.10 kg sphere at an angle of
12° .
T mg
So let’s draw a force FT
diagram
12°

Now ()
°=
cos 12 FE
()
TF
sin 12 E
°= Fg

So we can solve for FE

°
F cos 12
E
mg
sin 12 =
°()
()
F mg
= ° tan 12

()
E
⎛⎞=°⎜⎟
⎝⎠
0.10 9.8 tan 12
N
( ) ( ( ))
kg
kg
 =×
−
2.08 1 N
10 qq
Before we can apply 12

Fk
r
=, we need the distance (r value)
2
r = ° sin 12
2.0
m ()

rm
()
= ° 2.0 sin 12 12°2.0m
=
0.416
m r

The charge on each sphere after touching are now identical so 12 q q =, therefore half of
the original charge q on B

11
Now, 22
⎛ ⎞⎛ ⎞ ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟ Fk
⎝ ⎠⎝ ⎠ r
qq
E2
Fr
4 2

= 2
qk
Fr
= 2

E
4
q
k
= 2
1
E
( )( )
4 2.0 10 0.416

Nm
−
×
= 3.9 10 N
C
m −
9.0 10 2 9
×⋅ 2
C
=×
6

The initial charge on B is 6

−
3.9 10 C
×