TODAY’S TOPICS

1. COULOMB’S LAW

2. PERMITTIVITY
Charles Augustin de Coulomb
(1736 – 1806)
 COULOMB’S LAW

Fα
The force of attraction or repulsion
between two charges is directly
proportional to product of their charges
and inversely proportional to square of
the distance between them.
 COULOMB’S LAW

Fα
F= k
k=
is called permittivity of air or free space.
(absolute permittivity)
F=

Value of = 8.85x10 -12

 = 9x109
F=

F = 9x109

If the charges are placed in a medium of

permittivity 𝟄
F=
 Relative permittivity Or Dielectric constant
( K Or 𝟄r)

It is the ratio of permittivity of a medium to

the permittivity of free space.
𝟄r =
𝟄= 𝟄0 𝟄r
F=
F= OR F=
1.How does the force between two charges
change if the
a) distance is doubled?
b) distance is halved?
c) dielectric constant of the medium is increased?
d) charges are immersed in water (K=81)?
2.The force between two charges placed in air at
a distance r apart is F. What must be the distance
between two charges so that the force become
e) 3F
f) F/3
2.The force between two charges placed in air at a
distance r apart is F. What must be the distance between
two charges so that the force become
a) 3F
b) F/3
Solution:
a) F=
` 3F=
Ans:r1= r/

b) F=
F/3=
Ans:r2= r
 UNIT OF CHARGE- COULOMB
F=

If q1=q2= 1C and r=1m

F = 9x109 N
1 Coulomb is that charge when placed in air
or vacuum at a distance of 1m from an equal
and similar charge experiences a force of
9x109 N.
 Q. A Identify the given ratio ke2/G memp as dimensionless
quantity or not. From the table of Physical Constants determine
the value of this ratio. Also, mention the signification of the ratio.

ke2/G memp =

= 1 (dimensionless)
 Coulomb’s law in vector form

q1 r q2

Force on q2 due to q1, =

is the unit vector pointing from q1 to q2
=

=
 q1 r q2

Force on q1 due to q2, =

is the unit vector pointing from q2 to q1
=

=-

=-

ie Coulomb’s law obey Newton’s third law

 HOME FUN
1. A pith ball A of mass 9 x 10-5 kg carries a charge of
5µC.What is magnitude and nature of charge on pith ball B
held 2cm directly above A and A is stationary.?
2. A small metal sphere having positive charge of 1.7x 10 -8 C is
made to touch another sphere of same radius with negative
charge of 3 x 10-9C then they are separated to 20cm far. What
will be the force between them? What will be its value when
they immersed in an liquid of K=3?
3. Two point charges q1=5 x 10-6 and q2= 3 x 10-6 C are placed
at positions (1, 3, 5)m and (3, 5, 1)m respectively .Find the
force F12 and F21.
4.What is the force between two small charged
spheres having charges of 2x10-7C and 3x 10-7C
placed 30cm apart in the air?
5. Calculate the force between two alpha
particles separated by a distance of 3.2 x 10 -15m
in air.
6. Calculate distance between two protons such
that the electrical repulsive force between them
is equal to weight of either.
THANK
YOU
all