Coulomb’s Law

Coulomb’s law is a law of physics describing the electrostatic interaction between electrically
charged particles. It was studied and first published in 1783 by French physicist Charles Augustin de
Coulomb and was essential to the development of the theory of electromagnetism. The scalar form of
Coulomb’s law will only described the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two electric
charges. If the direction is required then the vector form is required as well. The magnitude of the
electrostatic force (F) on a charge (q1) due to the presence of the second charge (q 2), is given by

F=k o
| |
q1 q2
r
2

where r is the distance between the two charges and k o a proportionality constant (Coulomb’s
constant). The proportionality constant k o is related to define properties of space and can be computed
exactly.

1 c 2 μo 2 −7
k o= = =c ∙10 H /m
4 π ϵo 4 π

k o=9 x 10 9 N m2 / C2

By definition in SI units, the speed of light in vacuum, denoted by c is approximately equal to

3 x 1 08 m/s and the magnetic constant ( μo ) is equal to 4 πx 10−7 H /m , leading to the value for the
electric constant ( ϵ o ) as ϵ o =8.85 x 10 F /m .
−12

This formula says that the magnitude of the force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
charges of each object and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Note: e=1.6 ×10−19 C /electron

−31
m e =9.11 ×10 kg
m p=1.67 × 10−27 kg

Sample problem 1.
Three point charges are placed on the x-axis as shown in the figure below. Find the net force on the
−5 μC charge due to the two other charges.

Fq q
1 2
Fq q
2 3

q 1=3.0 μC q 2=−5.0 μC q 3=8.0 μC

_____ 20 cm ______ ____________30 cm _______

F q q =k 0
1 2 | |
q1 q2
r2

9
¿ 9 ×10 N m /C 2
|
2 ( 3 × 10−6 C ) (−5 ×10−6 C )
( 0.20 m )
2 |=−3.375 N
 1

F q q =k 0
2 3 | | q2q3
r
2

9
¿ 9 ×10 N m /C 2 2
| (−5× 10−6 C ) ( 8 × 10−6 C )
( 0.30 m )
2 |
=+ 4.0 N

F net=F q q + F q q
1 2 2 3

¿−3.375+4=0.625 N or 0.63 N

Sample problem 2.
A plastic ball has a charge of 10−12 C . (a) Does it contain an excess of deficiency of electrons
compared with its normal state of electrical neutrality? (b) How many such electrons are involved?

Solution:

Sample problem 3.
What is the magnitude and direction of the force on the charge of 4 x 10−9 C that is 5 cm
from a charge of 5 x 10−8 C ?

Solution:
 2
Sample problem 4.
The two identical balls in a vacuum, each of mass 0.10 g are carrying identical charges and
are suspended by two threads of equal length. At equilibrium they position themselves as
identical(as shown in the figure). Find the charge on either ball.

F 60° 60° F

40 cm
w

Solution:
3