Coulomb's law, one charge placed between two others

In summary, Coulomb's law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the force between two electrically charged particles. It is calculated using the equation F = k(q1q2)/r^2 and is significant because it allows us to calculate the force between two outer charges with the help of a middle charge. If the distance between the charges is doubled, the force will decrease by a factor of four. Coulomb's law can also be applied to non-point charges, but only in certain conditions.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


distance between two electrical charges q1=10nC, q2=16nC is 7mm , what force will act at third charge q3=2nC, placed between the first two charges 3mm far from the smaler charge and 4 mm far from the larger charge.

Homework Equations


Fc=k*|q1||q2|/r2

The Attempt at a Solution


F1,3=0,02(N)
F2,3=0,018(N)
then F=F1,3-F2,3=0,02N-0,018N=0,002N=2(mN)
am I right?
 
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  • #2


Yes, your solution is correct. The force acting on the third charge q3 will be 2 millinewtons (mN). This can also be written as 0.002 Newtons (N).
 

FAQ: Coulomb's law, one charge placed between two others

What is Coulomb's law?

Coulomb's law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the force between two electrically charged particles. It states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

How is Coulomb's law calculated?

Coulomb's law is calculated using the equation F = k(q1q2)/r^2, where F is the force between the two charges, k is the proportionality constant, q1 and q2 are the charges of the two particles, and r is the distance between them.

What is the significance of one charge being placed between two others in Coulomb's law?

In Coulomb's law, one charge being placed between two others is significant because it allows us to calculate the force that the two outer charges exert on each other. The middle charge serves as a mediator, affecting the force between the other two charges.

What happens to the force if the distance between the charges is doubled?

If the distance between the charges is doubled, the force between them will decrease by a factor of four. This is because of the inverse square relationship in Coulomb's law, where the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the charges.

Can Coulomb's law be applied to non-point charges?

Yes, Coulomb's law can be applied to non-point charges, but only if the charges are spherically symmetric and if the distance between them is much larger than their sizes. In this case, the charges can be treated as point charges for calculation purposes.

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