Electric force Definition and 247 Threads

Electromagnetism is a branch of physics involving the study of the electromagnetic force, a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles. The electromagnetic force is carried by electromagnetic fields composed of electric fields and magnetic fields, and it is responsible for electromagnetic radiation such as light. It is one of the four fundamental interactions (commonly called forces) in nature, together with the strong interaction, the weak interaction, and gravitation. At high energy, the weak force and electromagnetic force are unified as a single electroweak force.

Electromagnetic phenomena are defined in terms of the electromagnetic force, sometimes called the Lorentz force, which includes both electricity and magnetism as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. The electromagnetic force plays a major role in determining the internal properties of most objects encountered in daily life. The electromagnetic attraction between atomic nuclei and their orbital electrons holds atoms together. Electromagnetic forces are responsible for the chemical bonds between atoms which create molecules, and intermolecular forces. The electromagnetic force governs all chemical processes, which arise from interactions between the electrons of neighboring atoms. Electromagnetism is very widely used in modern technology, and electromagnetic theory is the basis of electric power engineering and electronics including digital technology.
There are numerous mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic field. Most prominently, Maxwell's equations describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other and by charges and currents.
The theoretical implications of electromagnetism, particularly the establishment of the speed of light based on properties of the "medium" of propagation (permeability and permittivity), led to the development of special relativity by Albert Einstein in 1905.

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  1. S

    Overlapping Charged spheres: solve Electric Force of point charge (Q) locations

    I need help understanding how to calculate various Electric Field Strengths of several point charges (Q) both inside and along two OVERLAPPING identical spheres BUT with on NON-UNIFORM VOLUME CHARGE DENSITIES (-1p non-overlap density on the outside with -4p density overlapping internally) with...
  2. A

    Comparison of Net Electric Force on a +q

    Homework Statement In cases A and B shown there are two positive charges +Q each a distance s away from a third positive point charge +q. Is the net electric force on the +q charge in case A greater than, less than, or equal to the net electric force on the +q charge in case B? Explain...
  3. 1

    Electric force acting on an electron

    An elctron moving through an electric field experiences an acceleration of 5.4 x 10^3 m/s^2. Find the electric force acting on the electron. I think the equation F=ma may be used and maybe E=F/qsubo Do I need to use the fundamental charge to find an answer? using the fundamental charge...
  4. N

    Calculating Electrostatic Force Between Charges

    Hi all. I don't know if I'm completely over thinking this question or just not getting it. Please tell me if I'm correct. A -8.0μC charge is located 0.30m to the left of a +6.0μC charge. What is the magnitude and direction of the electrostatic force on the positive charge? F=KQaQb/r^2...
  5. T

    Finding the Electric Force on a Rod by Linear Charge

    Homework Statement An infinitely long, uniformly charged straight line has linear charge density λ1 coul/m. A straight rod of length 'b' lies in the plane of the straight line and perpendicular to it, with its enared end at distance 'a' from the line. The charge density on the rod varies with...
  6. N

    Solving for Electric Force: Two Point Charges

    Homework Statement Two point charges, 3q and q lie along x-axes. 3q is at 0.00 m and q is at 3.0m. Find the point between the 2 charges at which the net force on charge q is zero. Homework Equations F=kq1q2/r^2 The Attempt at a Solution Really can't figure this one out. Missed the...
  7. M

    Finding Charges: Electric Force & Polystyrene Foam

    Homework Statement Two balls of polystyrene foam are about 4 cm from each other and repel with an electric force of 0.2 N. Find the values of the two charges knowing that one of the balls has a charge that is twice the other.Homework Equations F= (kq1q2)/r2The Attempt at a Solution F=...
  8. P

    Electric Force of Two Charges on Third Charge

    Homework Statement 1. Charge q1= 1.00*10^-9C is located +0.01 m from the origin along the x-axis. Charge q2= 2.00*10^-9C is located +0.03 m from the origin. What is the electric force exerted by these two charges on a third charge, q3= 1.5*10^-9C, located at the origin? a. 1.65*10^-4N...
  9. G

    What is the electric force acting on the charge at the origin?

    [b]1. Consider three charges q1 = 4.3 nC, q2 = 6.6 nC, and q3 = -2.3 nC, arranged in a triangle as shown below. (a) What is the electric force acting on the charge at the origin? N, ° counterclockwise from the negative x-axis (b) What is the net electric field at the position of the...
  10. P

    Coulomb's Law - Electric Force Between Two Copper Coins

    Homework Statement We know that the magnitudes of the negative charge on the electron and the positive charge on the proton are equal. Suppose, however, that these magnitudes differ from each other by 0.00094%. With what force would two copper coins, placed 1.1 m apart, repel each other...
  11. C

    Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force

    Homework Statement Three point charges lie along a straight line as shown in the figure below, where q1 = 6.60 µC, q2 = 1.41 µC, and q3 = -1.9 µC. The separation distances are d1 = 3.00 cm and d2 = 2.00 cm. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force on each of the...
  12. K

    Calculating Electric Force on a Charge

    Homework Statement Q1-----Q2-----Q3; Q1=1.78E-6C;Q2=Q3=-Q1, r1=r2=1.82m Calculate the total force on Q2. Give your answer with a positive number for a force directed to the right. Homework Equations F= kq1q2/r^2 The Attempt at a Solution F2 = F12+F23 F12 =...
  13. M

    Electric Force problem -> Infinite charged plane with hole

    Electric Force problem --> Infinite charged plane with hole The plane is infinite charged. It has a charge density (σ) of 10nC/m^{2}. If R=5cm, determine the electric force of a proton in the point P=(0,0,10cm). =====================================================================...
  14. R

    Finding Electric Force between 2 parallel plates

    Homework Statement An alpha particle is placed between two horizontal parallel charged plates that are 2.00 cm apart. The potential difference between the plates is 12.0 V. WHAT is the ELECTRIC FORCE acting on the alpha particle? -Mass of alpha particle: 6.65 x 10^-27 kg Homework...
  15. L

    Electric Force and Electric Field problem

    Homework Statement A 0.15 g honeybee acquires a charge of 18 pC while flying. The electric field near the surface of the Earth is typically 100 N/C, directed downward. What is the ratio of the electric force on the bee to the bee's weight? What electric field strength and direction...
  16. V

    Maximum electric force felt by the raindrop

    Suppose 2 drops with equal charge q are on the x-axis at x=+-a. Find the maximum electric force felt by a third drop with charge Q at an arbitrary point on the y axis. from the symmetry we can deduce that the x components cancel and the net force is in the y direction. the y component is...
  17. V

    Calculating Electric Force on q3 in Meters: A Superposition Approach

    (x,y) axis in meters q1=60microC (0,1) q2=-34microC (2,0) q3=13microC (2,2) Fx3=? Fy3=? i used superposition F(net on 3)=F13+F23 broke it down into x and y components Fx=(kq1q3/r13^2)(x/r13) Fy=(kq1q3/r13^2)(y/r13) - (kq2q3/r23^2) plugging in the numbers i got Fx=1.3...
  18. F

    Electric Force acting on an electron

    Homework Statement A charge of -12.0nC is placed on the y-axis at y = -15cm and a charge of +12.0 nC is placed on the y-axis at y = 15cm. Determine (a) the electric field of each charge separately at x = 20.0cm, and (b) the net electric field due to these charges at x = 20.0 cm. (c) What...
  19. A

    Electric force, tension, charge

    Homework Statement Two small plastic balls hang from threads of negligible mass. Each ball has a mass of 0.65 g and a charge of magnitude q. The balls are attracted to each other, and the threads attached to the balls make an angle of 20.0° with the vertical, as shown in the figure below...
  20. B

    Electric Force- Finding angle of Force on q1 due to q2 and q3

    Homework Statement A charge of q1=3.7mC is located at (x=345, y=(-237))cm. A charge of q2=9.1mC is located at (2.0,5.7)m. A charge of q3=7.2mC is located at ((-27.9),83)m. What is the angle of the force on q1 due to q2 and q3? (deg, relative to +x axis, three significant figures) Homework...
  21. J

    Electric Force in a Square: Where is Best?

    Physics 12 help :) Homework Statement A charge +q and charge -q are placed at opposite corners of a square. will a third charge experience a greater force if it is placed at one of the empty corners of the square, or at the center of the square? explain not very good if it doesn't...
  22. C

    Direction of Electric Field vs. Electric Force

    Just a conceptual question by me; no formal question. Why is it that electric force on something is directionally opposite to that of the electric field?
  23. M

    What work was done by the electric force?

    Homework Statement A particle with a charge of + 4.20 nC is in a uniform electric field E directed to the left. It is released from rest and moves to the left; after it has moved 6.00 cm, its kinetic energy is found to be +1.50 * 10^-6 J What work was done by the electric force...
  24. S

    Electric force with a moving conductive bar in a magnetic field

    Homework Statement A conducting bar is moved to the right in a magnetic field going into the page, an electric field is set up in the bar. Is this electric field upwards or downwards. The Attempt at a Solution i think that because a current is being induced in the bar you use the right...
  25. A

    Electric Force and Coulomb's law problem

    Homework Statement Two point charges are fixed on the y axis: a negative point charge q1 = -28 µC at y1 = +0.25 m and a positive point charge q2 at y2 = +0.38 m. A third point charge q = +8.5 µC is fixed at the origin. The net electrostatic force exerted on the charge q by the other two...
  26. U

    Electric Force/ charge problem; missing electrons

    Homework Statement How many electrons are missing from a pith ball which feels an electrostatic force of 4.5 x 10^-3 N torward a second pith ball 22 mm away with a net charge of 2.3 nC. Homework Equations q= ne; charge of an object equals the number of electrons x the charge of an...
  27. JimiJams

    Couple simple electric force questions

    hey everyone, We're doing electric force and fields right now in our physics class. The trouble I'm having is with signs. I'm doing a prblem right now where I need to solve the magnitude and angle of electric force on one charge from a couple other charges and I don't know what sign to apply...
  28. C

    Calculating Electric Force in a Dipole at Long Distances

    Hi, I had this question in my homework: An electric dipole consists of two equal loads and signs opposite separated by one distance which equals 2a. Show how the module of the electric force resulting on a proton (load +e) placed directly on the Y=axis at a very long distance from the dipole...
  29. A

    Coulomb ( Electric force and charge )

    Homework Statement 1. [1pt] What is the total charge of the radon nucleus? (The neutral radon atom has 86 electrons.) 1.38 * 10^-17 C 2. [1pt] What is the magnitude of its electric field at a distance of 9.6 x10-10 m from the nucleus? +1.34 * 10^11 V/m 3. [1pt] What is the...
  30. A

    Force problem What is the electric force on q3 due to the other 2 charges?

    Homework Statement Three point charges are fixed in place in the right triangle shown below, in which q1 = 0.71 µC and q2 = -0.67 µC. What is the electric force on the +1.0-µC (let's call this q3) charge due to the other two charges? image: http://www.webassign.net/grr/p16-15alt.gif...
  31. B

    Calculating Electric Force on q1 using Coulomb's Law: Example Problem"

    Homework Statement Basically, I am given a graph with three charges, q1, q2, and q3 on it and told that the charge on q1 is 22 microcoulombs and the charge on q2 is 19 microcoulombs. I am then told that the force on q1 points in the -x direction which I used to find that the charge on q3...
  32. T

    Magnitude of Electric Force Between Two Ions

    Homework Statement Find the magnitude of the electric force between a Na+ ion and a Cl- ion separated by .5 nm. Homework Equations |F| = (kQq)/r^2 The Attempt at a Solution So the problem I am having with this question is this: my first attempt at a solution was to designate |Q| =...
  33. 1

    Simple electric force problem with point masses includes picture

    Simple electric force problem with point masses... includes picture! Homework Statement Four point charges of +/- q are arranged on the corners of a square of side L as illustrated in the figure. What is the net electric force that these charges exert on a point charge q placed at the center...
  34. F

    Why Is the Direction of Electric Force Important in Calculations?

    Homework Statement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AiWe9-szPc&feature=related Go to frame 7:50 The man explains why it shouldn't be -q unfortunately I am too dumb to fully understand. Let the charge on the most left side be Q1, the middle charge be Q2, and the chargeon the...
  35. I

    Where Should Charge C Be Placed to Achieve Zero Net Force?

    Homework Statement There are two questions, one being a communicational question while the other an application: 1.Charge A of +2.0 muC is put at the origin of an cartisian plane. Charge B of -4.0 muC is put 40 cm to the right of charge A. Where should charge C be placed (between the two...
  36. X

    Can a Third Sphere with Opposite Charge Achieve Zero Net Force?

    Homework Statement Two spheres, with charges 1.6x10^-5C and 6.4x10^-5C are 2m apart. (The charges have the same sign). In the middle of the two spheres, should a third sphere,, of opposite charge 3.0x10^-6C, be placed if the third sphere has zero net electrical force? (1.6x10^-5) --------...
  37. H

    Calculate electric force between unlike atoms of a molecule?

    How can I calculate the attractive electric force between the unlike atoms of a water molecule? Would I use Coulomb's law? Using Coulomb's law: I don't understand the radius I would use?
  38. E

    Magnetic Force, Electric Force

    Homework Statement 24. A uniform magnetic field is in the positive z direction. A positively charged particle is moving in the positive x direction through the field. The net force on the particle can be made zero by applying an electric field in what direction? A. Positive y B. Negative y...
  39. M

    Electric Force and Object Acceleration

    [b]1. An object with a charge of -2.9 microC and a mass of .012 kg experiences an upward electric force, due to a uniform electric field, equal in magnitude to its weight. Part A: Find the magnitude of the electric field. Which I correctly calculated to be 4.1 x 10^4 N/C. Part B: If the...
  40. A

    How Does Electric Force Affect a Charged Sphere Between Parallel Plates?

    A small sphere of mass 1.0 x 10^-6 kg carries a total charfe of 2.0 x 10^-8 C. The sphere hangs from a silk thread between two large parallel conducting plates. The excess charge on each plate is equal in magnitude, but opposite in sign. The thread makes an angle of 30 with the positive...
  41. D

    Electric force due to point charges

    Homework Statement 3 point charges are fixed in place in the right triangle shown below, in which q1= 0.67 microC and q2= -0.67 microC. What is the electric force on q3 with +1.0 microC due to the other two charges? Magnitude? direction, measured counterclockwise from the +x axis? **HYP=10cm...
  42. T

    Finding electric force between two particles

    Homework Statement Two particles with electric charges Q and −3Q are separated by a distance of 2.5 m. If Q = 4.9 C, what is the electric force between the two particles? Homework Equations Coloumb's equation: F=k*q1*q2/r^2 k=9.0*10^9 The Attempt at a Solution I just tried to...
  43. P

    Total electric force on a particle in an equilatteral triangle

    Three charged particles are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Calculate the total electric force on the 7.00µC charge. The three charges are: 7.00µC, 2.00µC, and -4.00µC and they are all 0.500 meters apart. Here's a graphic of the layout...
  44. P

    Finding Electric Field from Electric Force and Charge

    Homework Statement A uniform electric field exists between two conducting plates separated by 1.1mm . A dust grain with charge 65nC between the plates feels a 19N electric force. Find the electric field. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Can someone please give me an...
  45. G

    Electric force of Van de Graaff generator problem.

    A Van de Graaff generator is charged so that a proton at its surface accelerates radially outward at 1.45 10^12 m/s2. Find the following. (a) the magnitude of the electric force on the proton at that instant magnitude (b) the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the surface of...
  46. D

    Calculating Electric Force Between Balloon & Denim

    Homework Statement A balloon rubbed against denim gains a charge of −2.0 μC. The Coulomb constant is 8.98755 × 109 N · m2/C2. What is the electric force between the bal- loon and the denim when the two are sepa- rated by a distance of 6.0 cm? (Assume that the charges are located at a...
  47. A

    Calculating Time and Velocity for Moving Charged Objects

    Hi all, [This is not a homework, I post this for my own calculations] Let's say that there are two different charged copper cubes with the same mass. Mass = 2 kg Q(1) = +10 C Q(2) = -4 C If the distance between them is 10 m, then how can I calculate the remaining time for the distance...
  48. O

    Electric Force charge magnitude

    Homework Statement A 1.0-C charge is 15 m from a second charge, and the force between them is 1.0 N. What is the magnitude of the second charge? Homework Equations F = k(q1)(q2)/r^2 The Attempt at a Solution F = k(q1)(q2)/r^2 need to solve for q2 so... F(r^2)/k(q1) = q2...
  49. T

    Electric field, Electric Potencial, Electric Force, Potential Electric Energy

    Hi, I have some questions about these concepts. The equations: Electric field =\frac{K.|Q|}{d^2} Electric potential =\frac{K.|Q|}{d} Electric Force =\frac{K.|Q|.|q|}{d^2} Potential Electric Energy =\frac{K.|Q|.|q|}{d} Electric field and electric force are vectors, electric...
  50. kontejnjer

    Calculating Resultant Force on a Charge in a Triangle Configuration

    Homework Statement Hello forums! I'd like to ask you for your assistance on this particular problem: Three charges are placed at the edges of a triangle (Q1=+2 C, Q2=-4 C, Q3=+3 C) as shown on the picture (b=10 cm). What is the resultant force on charge Q2 (neglecting gravity and assuming...
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