1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic interaction between electrically charged particles. It states that the 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.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law equation for Q2:

Where:

• \( q_2 \) — Second charge (Coulombs)
• \( F \) — Electrostatic force (Newtons)
• \( r \) — Distance between charges (meters)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( q_1 \) — First charge (Coulombs)

Explanation: This equation calculates the second charge when the force, distance, and first charge are known.

3. Importance of Coulomb's Law

Details: Coulomb's Law is fundamental to electromagnetism and is used to calculate electrostatic forces in various applications including particle physics, electrical engineering, and chemistry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter force in Newtons, distance in meters, and charge Q1 in Coulombs. All values must be valid (force > 0, distance > 0, q1 ≠ 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Coulomb's constant?
A: Coulomb's constant (k) is approximately 9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² and represents the proportionality factor in Coulomb's Law.

Q2: What are the SI units for electric charge?
A: The SI unit for electric charge is the Coulomb (C). One Coulomb equals the charge of approximately 6.242 × 10¹⁸ electrons.

Q3: Does the calculator work for both positive and negative charges?
A: Yes, the calculator works for both positive and negative charges. The sign of the result indicates the charge polarity.

Q4: What is the range of validity for Coulomb's Law?
A: Coulomb's Law is valid for point charges at rest and works well for distances from nuclear scales to macroscopic distances.

Q5: How does medium affect Coulomb's Law?
A: In different media, the force is reduced by the dielectric constant of the material. The calculator assumes charges are in a vacuum.