Electrical Force Between Two Moving Charges

In summary, there is no straightforward formula for calculating the electrical force between two moving charges. However, an iterative approach can be used by considering the initial velocities and separation of the charges, as well as the charge they carry. This method may not always be reliable and may require additional techniques for complex systems.
  • #1
samieee
67
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We all know the coulomb's law of electrical force between two charges [itex]q_1[/itex][itex],q_2[/itex] equals to [itex]\normalsize F= Kq_1q_2/d^2[/itex]. But this law is not precisely true when the two charges are moving. We know for a single charge q moving with a velocity v the force is [itex]\ F=q(E+v×B)[/itex]

What is the straightforward formula of electrical force between two moving charges?
 
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  • #2
I don't think you have a straightforward formula to compute the force between two charges. If some elaborate formula exists I would imagine that it would be highly nontrivial and far from straightforward. There is, however, a more crude and obvious approach. One can determine the force between the two charges ##F(t)## in an iterative way. Given the initial (##t=0##) velocities of the two charges, their initial separation, and the charge they carry, one can determine ##F(0)##. Then using basic kinematics one can determine their position and velocity after a small time ##\Delta t##. One can repeat this for subsequent ##\Delta t##. As you might have suspected, ##\Delta t## must be chosen very carefully. Your ##\Delta t## must account for the worst possible scenarios. Otherwise you would produce garbage results. This may not be a foolproof technique. Although I don't recall any examples at this moment, it is reasonable to expect that there may be some exotic and chaotic systems where implementation of this naïve technique would not work. And one may have to employ some clever techniques to account for the complexity of the system.
 

FAQ: Electrical Force Between Two Moving Charges

What is the electrical force between two moving charges?

The electrical force between two moving charges is a fundamental force of nature that describes the interaction between two electrically charged particles. It is caused by the exchange of virtual particles called photons between the charges.

How is the electrical force between two moving charges calculated?

The electrical force between two moving charges is calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

How does the direction of motion affect the electrical force between two charges?

The direction of motion can affect the electrical force between two charges in two ways. If the charges are moving in the same direction, the force will be greater compared to when they are moving in opposite directions. Additionally, the force can also change direction depending on the relative velocity of the charges.

What is the difference between electrical force and gravitational force?

The main difference between electrical force and gravitational force is that electrical force is caused by the interaction between charged particles, whereas gravitational force is caused by the interaction between objects with mass. Additionally, electrical force can be either attractive or repulsive, while gravitational force is always attractive.

How does the distance between two charges affect the electrical force?

The distance between two charges has a significant impact on the electrical force between them. As the distance increases, the force decreases according to the inverse square law. This means that the force decreases exponentially as the distance between the charges increases.

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