Calculating Charge Magnitude for Nickel Coin Using Coulomb's Law

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In summary, the conversation was about finding the magnitude of the charge of all the electrons on a nickel coin. The formula for force between charges was mentioned, but it was clarified that the question was about finding total charge in Coulombs. The units of charge and the number of electrons in a Coulomb were also discussed, and it was determined that the number of electrons on the coin had already been found. In the end, it was understood that multiplying was not the correct approach and the correct answer was obtained.
  • #1
tchounkovskii
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Homework Statement


A nickel coin has a mass of about 4.3g. Each mole (6.02e23 atoms) has a mass of about 58.2g


Homework Equations


I found the number of electrons on each coin, which is 1.245e24 and also the number of atoms on the coin which is 4.447e22.

The Attempt at a Solution


Now I have to find the magnitude of the charge of all of these electrons. I just started phys part two and need help. I Know that the C constant is, and I think I have to use the F=Q1Q2/r2but I can't come up with the solution
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF.

By C I think you mean the units of charge - Coulomb.

The formula you show is for the force between charges separated by a distance.

If you are looking for total charge in C, however, you will want to look up how many electrons makes up a Coulomb.
 
  • #3
Well, I know that C=6.02 x 10^18 electrons, and I have 1.245 x 10^24 electrons, also the problem states that there are 28 electrons/atom on the nickel coin... would I multiply those?
 
  • #4
tchounkovskii said:
Well, I know that C=6.02 x 10^18 electrons, and I have 1.245 x 10^24 electrons, also the problem states that there are 28 electrons/atom on the nickel coin... would I multiply those?

You might want to use 6.24*1018 electrons/ Coulomb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb

As to the 28 per atom, didn't you use that already to determine total electrons?
 
  • #5
yes, that was to find the total electrons
 
  • #6
tchounkovskii said:
yes, that was to find the total electrons

So if you have total electrons and you know how many are in a Coulomb ...
 
  • #7
I think i have to multiply but I'm not coming out with the right answer
 
  • #8
tchounkovskii said:
I think i have to multiply but I'm not coming out with the right answer

If I have 48 eggs, and there are 12 eggs in a dozen, and I wanted to know how many dozen I had, ... I wouldn't be multiplying.
 
  • #9
Ok, cool...got it thanks
 

FAQ: Calculating Charge Magnitude for Nickel Coin Using Coulomb's Law

How do you calculate the charge magnitude for a nickel coin using Coulomb's Law?

To calculate the charge magnitude for a nickel coin using Coulomb's Law, you will need to know the value of the constant k, which is equal to 8.99 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2. You will also need to measure the distance between the nickel coin and the point where you want to calculate the charge magnitude. Finally, you will need to measure the force between the nickel coin and the point. The charge magnitude can then be calculated using the formula Q = k * (F/d^2), where Q is the charge magnitude, k is the constant, F is the force, and d is the distance.

What is Coulomb's Law and how is it used in calculating charge magnitude?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the relationship between electrical charges. It states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is used in calculating charge magnitude by providing a mathematical relationship between the force and distance between two charges, allowing for the determination of the charge magnitude.

How does the distance between the nickel coin and the point affect the charge magnitude?

The distance between the nickel coin and the point has a significant impact on the charge magnitude calculated using Coulomb's Law. As the distance increases, the force between the two charges decreases, resulting in a lower charge magnitude. Conversely, as the distance decreases, the force between the two charges increases, resulting in a higher charge magnitude. This relationship follows the inverse square law, where the charge magnitude is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

Can Coulomb's Law be used to calculate the charge magnitude for any object?

Yes, Coulomb's Law can be used to calculate the charge magnitude for any object, as long as the object has a measurable charge and the distance between the object and the point where the charge magnitude is being calculated is known. However, this law is most commonly used for point charges, where the size of the object is negligible compared to the distance between it and the point.

What is the unit of measurement for charge magnitude calculated using Coulomb's Law?

The unit of measurement for charge magnitude calculated using Coulomb's Law is Coulomb (C). This unit is named after the French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, who first described the law of electrostatic force between charges in the late 18th century. One Coulomb is defined as the amount of charge that passes through a conductor in one second when a current of one ampere is flowing.

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