Physics

Lecture # 13
Chapter 21
Coulomb’s Law
(Page 609)

Feb. 25, 2026

Coulomb’s Law
Coulomb’s Law describes the electrostatic force between two-point charges.
➢ Proportional to the product of the charges on the objects, and
➢ Inversely proportional to the square of separation between squared objects.

q1q2 𝑞1 𝑞2
F =k 2 ⇒ 𝐹Ԧ = 𝑘 2 𝑟Ƹ
r 𝑟
2
9
Nm 1
𝑘 = 8.99 × 10 2
=
C 4𝜋𝜀𝑜
𝐶2
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝜀0 = 8.85 × 10−12 2
.
𝑁𝑚
o is permittivity of free space
Coulomb’s Law
𝑞1 𝑞2
⇒ 𝐹Ԧ = 𝑘 2 𝑟Ƹ
𝑟

The direction of the force is either

parallel or antiparallel to this unit
vector depending upon the relative
signs of the charges
Example 1
Two charges are separated by a distance r and have a force F on each other.
q1q2
F =k 2
r
F q2 F
q1
r

If r is doubled then F is : ¼ of F

If q1 is doubled then F is : 2F

If q1 and q2 are doubled and r is halved then F is : 16F

Electric Force
The force acting on each charged object has the same magnitude -
but acting in opposite directions
 
F12 = F21 (Newton’s Third Law)
More Than Two Charges
Given charges q, q1, and q2
If q1 were the only other charge, 𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞1
q1
we would know the force on q 
due to q1 - 𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞 Fnet
1 q
If q2 were the only other charge, 𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞2
we would know the force on q q2
due to q2 - 𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞
2

What is the net force if both charges are present?

The net force is given by the Superposition Principle

𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞1 + 𝐹Ԧ𝑞𝑞2
Superposition of Forces
➢ If there are more than two charged objects interacting
with each other
➢ The net force on any one of the charged objects is - the
vector sum of the individual Coulomb forces on that
charged object

 qi q q
Fj = q j  k rˆ
2 ij
= kq j
1
2
ˆ
r
1j+ kq j
2 rˆ
22j ...
r
i  j ij r1 j r2 j
Coulomb’s Law is strictly valid for point charges only.
However, It is a good approximation for small uniformly charged objects.

r12

+ -

For objects with complex shapes, you must add up all the forces acting
on each separate charge (calculus!!).

+ -
+ -
+ -
Which force is strong??

(i) Electric force and

(ii) Gravitational Forces
Two 40 gram masses each with a charge of 3 μC are placed 50 cm apart.
Compare the gravitational force and electric force. (Ignore the force of the
earth on the two masses)

3μC 3μC
40g 40g

50cm
Two 40 gram masses each with a charge of 3 μC are placed 50 cm apart.
Compare the gravitational force and electric force. (Ignore the force of the
earth on the two masses)

m1m2 (.04)(.04) −13

Fg = G 2 = 6.67 10 −11
 4.27  10 N
r (0.5) 2

−6 −6
q1q2 9 (3  10 )(3  10 )
FE = k 2 = 9.0 10 2  0.324N
r (0.5)

➢ Specifically, the electric force is about 1011 times stronger than the
gravitational force.
 Example 1: a positive charge Q1=+Q is located a distance d along the y-axis from
the origin. A second positive charge Q2=+Q is located at the origin and a negative
charge Q3= − 2Q is located on the x-axis a distance 2d away from Q1. Calculate
the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges.

Q1=+Q

d
2d

Q2=+Q Q3=−2Q x
Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges.

y F = F2 + F3

 q1q2 ˆ ( +Q )( +Q ) ˆ Q2 ˆ
F2 = k 2 j = k j=k 2 j
r12 d 2
d

Q1=+Q F3 = F3x ˆi + F3y ˆj


d F3 = F3 cos  ˆi − F3 sin  ˆj
2d

 q1q3 q1q3
Q2=+Q Q3=−2Q x ˆ
F3 = k 2 cos  i − k 2 sin  ˆj
r13 r13

1 3
sin  = cos  =
2 2
 Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other
two charges.

y  ( +Q )( -2Q ) 3 ˆ ( +Q )( -2Q ) 1 ˆ
F3 = k i −k j
( 2d) ( 2d)
2 2
2 2

 2Q2 3 ˆ 2Q2 1 ˆ
F3 = k 2 i −k 2 j
4d 2 4d 2
Q1=+Q

 3 kQ2 ˆ 1 kQ2 ˆ
d F3 = i− j
2d 4 d 2
4 d2

Q2=+Q Q3=−2Q x
 Q2 ˆ 3 kQ2 ˆ 1 kQ2 ˆ
F = F2 + F3 = k 2 j + i− j
d 4 d 2
4 d2

 3 kQ2 ˆ 3 kQ2 ˆ
F= i+ j
4 d 2
4 d2
Example 2: Three charged objects are placed as shown. Find the net force
on the charge of q =-4μC due to q1 =+5μC and q2 =-5μC

q1q2
F =k
q2 − 5μC r2
45º
(5 10−6 )(4 10−6 )
F1 = 9 109
= 4.5 N
202 + 202  28cm (0.20) 2
20cm

(5 10−6 )(4 10−6 )

F2 = 9 109
2
= 2.30N
F1 45º (0.28)
+ 5μC − 4μC
F2
q1 20cm q

F1 and F2 must be added together as vectors.

 (5 10−6 )(4 10−6 ) (5 10−6 )(4 10−6 )
F1 = 9 109
2
= 4.5 N F2 = 9 109
2
= 2.30N
(0.20) (0.28)

F1 2.3cos45≈1.6 - 2.9
45º θ
29º
2.3sin45≈1.6 - 1.6
F2 3.31

Fnet = 2.92 + 1.62  3.31N

+  − 1.6 
 = tan  −1
  29


 − 2.9 

3.31N at 180+29=209º