Electrostatic force and Coulomb's law

The electrostatic force also called electric force or electrical force is the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged objects or particles. 

To calculate the electrostatic force, we can use the formula you see below known as Coulomb's law

The formula is named after Charles Augustin Coulomb who did some experiments that led to the formula.

F = k
|q1||q2| / d2
Electrostatic force

d is the distance between the charged particles or objects.

q1 represents the quantity of charge of one particle.

q2 represents the quantity of charge of the other particle.

k is called the proportionality constant or electrostatic constant.

k = 9,000,000,000 N.m2/C2

Notice that in Coulomb's law, we take the absolute value of the quantity of charge. This is important since the charge of a particle or object could be either positive of negative. The sign just tells you how the particles will behave.

If the charges have the same sign, the force is repulsive.

If the charges have different signs, the force is attractive.

However, when doing the math, the values of the charges must be positive.

The SI unit that we use for the electrostatic force is the Coulomb.

Be careful! The Coulomb is not the charge of a single electron.

1 Coulomb is the charge of approximately 6.24 quintillion electrons.

or 6.24 billion billion electrons.

or 6.24 ×1018

In other words, it is the charge that goes through a 100-watt light bulb in 1 second.

It makes sense that 1 coulomb could not be the charge of just 1 electron.

Charles Coulomb could not do his experiment with just 1 electron. It is way too small! He had to experiment with something he can touch. And if you can touch it, it is made with billions and billions of electrons.

Just like 1 inch is defined based on what you can see or experiment with, 1 coulomb is defined based on what Coulomb would experiment with.

Similarity and differences between electrostatic force and gravitational force.

Interestingly, Coulomb's law has the same format as Newton's equation for the gravitational force between two particles.

F = G
m1m2 / d2

Gravitational force:

  • Product of masses
  • G is very small
  • Only attractive
  • Inverse-square law

Electrical force:

  • attractive or repulsive
  • K is very big
  • Product of charges
  • Inverse-square law

Example

Two particles have opposite charges equal to 1.60 × 10-18 and -2.30 × 10-16. The distance between the charge is 0.02 meter. Find the electrical force between the two charges.

F = 9000000000
|1.60 × 10-18||-2.30 × 10-16| / 0.022

F = 9 × 109
1.60 × 10-18 ×2.30 × 10-16 / 0.0004

F =
(9 × 1.60 × 2.30) × 109 × 10-18 × 10-16 / 0.0004

F =
(33.12) × 10-25 / 4 × 10-4

F =
(33.12) × 10-25 × 104 / 4

F =
(33.12) × 10-21 / 4

F = 8.28 × 10-21 Newtons

Recent Articles

  1. How To Find The Factors Of 20: A Simple Way

    Sep 17, 23 09:46 AM

    Positive factors of 20
    There are many ways to find the factors of 20. A simple way is to...

    Read More

  2. The SAT Math Test: How To Be Prepared To Face It And Survive

    Jun 09, 23 12:04 PM

    SAT math
    The SAT Math section is known for being difficult. But it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to be prepared and complete the section with confidence here.

    Read More

Tough algebra word problems

100 Tough Algebra Word Problems.

If you can solve these problems with no help, you must be a genius!

Math quizzes

 Recommended

Math vocabulary quizzes