Electrostatic Force Calculator

Coulomb's law electrostatic force calculator and formulas


This function calculates the electrostatic force of the electric charge according to Coulomb's law

To calculate, enter the charge values in coulombs and the distance in meters. Then click on the 'Calculate' button.


Calculate electric charge

 Input
Charge 1
Charge 2
Distance
Decimal places
 Result
Force

Description


Coulomb's inverse-square law, or simply Coulomb's law, is an experimental law of physics that calculates the amount of force between two electrically charged particles at rest. This electric force is conventionally called the electrostatic force or Coulomb force.

The law states that the magnitude, or absolute value, of the attractive or repulsive electrostatic force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of their charges and inversely proportional to the squared distance between them. Coulomb discovered that bodies with like electrical charges repel.

It follows therefore, that the repulsive force that the two balls – that were electrified with the same kind of electricity – exert on each other, follows the inverse proportion of the square of the distance.

Coulomb also showed that oppositely charged bodies attract according to an inverse-square law


Formulas for calculating the electrostatic force


Coulomb's law is defined by the following formula

\[\displaystyle F= k_e \frac{q_1 · q_2}{r^2}\]
\(F\) = electrostatic force in newtons
\(k_e\) = Coulomb constant: 8.987.551.787,3681764 Nm2 C-2   ≈   8.988·109 Nm2 C-2
\(q_1\) = Charge of the 1st object in coulombs
\(q_2\) = Charge of the 2nd object in coulombs
\(r\) = distance between the objects in meters

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