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Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law states that the electrostatic 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. It defines the force as a vector quantity along the line joining the two charges, with a magnitude that can be calculated using the formula F=kQ1Q2/R2, where k is a constant, Q1 and Q2 are the charges, and R is the distance between them. The law applies to static point charges and is useful for calculations involving electric fields and potentials.

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468 views

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law states that the electrostatic 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. It defines the force as a vector quantity along the line joining the two charges, with a magnitude that can be calculated using the formula F=kQ1Q2/R2, where k is a constant, Q1 and Q2 are the charges, and R is the distance between them. The law applies to static point charges and is useful for calculations involving electric fields and potentials.

Uploaded by

shyamsundermerugu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Coulomb’s Law

It states that the force, F between two point charges Q1 and Q 2 is:

i. Along the line joining them

ii. Directly proportional to the product of the two charges

Q1 and Q2 (i.e., F α Q1 Q2 )

iii. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R

1
between them (i.e, F α )
R2

Q1 Q2

SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof R 1


Mathematically, F α Q1 Q2
1
Fα
R2
Q1 Q 2
Fα
R2
where k = proportionality constant, m/F
Q 1 Q2
F=k N
N R2 ε = ε0 εr
1 ε = permittivity of the
k= m/F
4πε medium
1 ε0 = absolute permittivity
= 10 −9
4π x = 8.854 x 10 -12 F/m
36π
10−9
=9x 109 m/F = F/m
36π
εr = relative permittivity,
Q1 Q2 Or Q1 Q2 = 1 for air (free space)
F=
4πε R2
N F = 9 x109 N
R2 Scalar form
2
SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof
𝐅ത𝟐𝟏 Q1
Vector form:
If point charges Q1 and Q2 are ഥ 𝟏𝟐
𝐑
Located at points having position
𝐫ത𝟏 Q2
vectors 𝐫𝟏ҧ and 𝐫𝟐ҧ , then the force 𝐅ത𝟏𝟐
on Q2 due to Q1 , shown in figure,
𝐫ത𝟐 𝐅ത𝟏𝟐
is given by,
Origin
Q1 Q2
𝐅ത𝟏𝟐 = 4πε0 R2
𝐚ത𝐑𝟏𝟐 Vector form
ഥ 12
R
where, aത R12 = ഥ 12 = rҧ 2 - rҧ1 and
&R ഥ 12 = R
R
ഥ 12
R
Q Q ഥ 12
R Q1 Q2 rത2 − rത1 Q1 Q2
Therefore, Fത 12 = 1 2 2 x = x = x (rҧ 2 − rҧ1 )
4πε0 R ഥ 12
R 4πε0 R2 R 4πε0 R3
Q Q (rത − rത )
Fത 12 = 1 2 ത 2 ത 1 3
4πε0 r2 − r1

SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 3


It is worthwhile to note that:

• The force, Fത 21 = Fത 12 aത R21 = Fത 12 (- aത R12 )

or Fത 21 = - Fത 12 since, aത R21 = - aത R12

• Like charges repel and unlike charges attract each other

+ + - - + -
• The distance R between the charged bodies Q1 and Q2 must be large compared
with the linear dimensions of the bodies; i.e., Q1 and Q2 must be point charges

• Q1 and Q2 must be static (at rest) R

• The signs of Q1 and Q2 must be taken into account. For like charges Q1 Q2 > 0

and for un-like charges Q1 Q2 < 0


SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 4
Applications of Coulomb’s law:

• Find the force between the pair of charges

• Find the potential at a point due to fixed charge

• Find the electric field at a point due to fixed charge

• Find the displacement flux density indirectly

• Find the potential and electric field due to any type of charge distribution

• Find the charge if the force and electric field are known
Limitations of Coulomb’s law:
• Charges must be at rest

• If the charges are in arbitrary shape, it is difficult to apply the coulomb’s


law SHYAMSUNDER MERUGU, Asst. Prof 5

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