ECM 515 : ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY

REPORT

“ COULOMB’S LAW ’’

NO NAME ID CLASS
1 NUR ALIA IZZATTI BINTI 2017668698 PEE 200 4 D2
ISMAFARIDI
2 AWANG KHAIRUL ASRI BIN 2017668768 PEE 200 4 D2
AWANG YUNUS
3 SITI NUR HIDAYAH BINTI 2017668758 PEE 200 4 D1
ANWAR

SUBMITTED : PUAN HAYATI

DATE : 14 DECEMBER 2017
COULOMB’S LAW AND ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY

HISTORY
Around 620 BC, Benjamin Franklin attributed this effect to the existence of
two electrical charges one positive and the other negative. Then Charles-
Augustin de Coulomb states that the force between two electrical charges is
proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them. Coulomb force is one of the principal
forces involved in atomic reactions. He also established the inverse square law
of attraction and repulsion of unlike and like magnetic poles, which became
the basis for the mathematical theory of magnetic forces. The data he obtained through his
extensive use of the torsion balance enabled Coulomb to formulate one of the fundamental laws
of electromagnetism, which bears his name Coulomb's law. Posthumously he was honored by the
adoption of an SI unit of electric charge bearing his name. The coulomb (C) is equivalent to the
charge transferred by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second.
INTRODUCTION

Electrostatics is a science related to the electric charges which are static which are at rest.
Electric charges has its effect in a region which known as electric field. Therefore the study of
such time invariant electric field in a vacuum produced by various types of static charge
distribution is called Electrostatics.

Common example that uses the Principle of electrostatics :

i. Computer peripheral devices like keyboard, touchpad and etc

ii. Variety machine in hospital such as X-ray machines and electrocardiograms
iii. Industrial machines electrodeposition

THEORY

Coulomb's Law is one of the basic ideas of electricity in physics. The law looks at
the forces created between two charged objects. Every electrical interaction involves a force that
highlights the importance of these three variables which are force that acts over some distance of
separation, charge and distance. As distance increases, the forces and electric fields decrease. This
simple idea was converted into a relatively simple formula. The force between the objects can be
positive or negative depending on whether the objects are attracted to each other
or repelled. Some charges are attracted to each other. Positive and negative charges like to move
towards each other. Similar charges such as two positive or two negative push away from each
other. The forces between objects become stronger as they move together and weaker as they
move apart. So as for a better understanding below shows the attraction/repulsive interaction in
charges.
In the diagram above, objects A and B have like charge causing them to repel each other. Thus,
the force on object A is directed leftward (away from B) and the force on object B is directed
rightward (away from A). On the other hand, objects C and D have opposite charge causing them
to attract each other. Thus, the force on object C is directed rightward (toward object D) and the
force on object D is directed leftward (toward object C). When it comes to the electrical force
vector, perhaps the best way to determine the direction of it is to apply the fundamental rules of
charge interaction(opposites attract and likes repel).

Figure above shows, when you have two charged particles, an electric force is created. If you
have larger charges, the forces will be larger. If you use those two ideas, and add the fact that
charges can attract and repel each other you will understand Coulomb's Law. It's a formula that
measures the electrical forces between two objects.
k Q1 Q 2
F= "F" is the resulting force between the two charges. The distance between the two
R2
charges is "R." The "R" actually stands for "radius of separation" but you just need to know it is
a distance. The "Q1" and "Q2" are values for the amount of charge in each of the particles.
Scientists use Coulombs as units to measure charge. The constant of the equation is "k." As you
learn more physics, you will see that this formula is very similar to a formula from Newton's
work with gravity.
 The symbols Q1 and Q2 in the Coulomb's law equation represent the quantities of charge on the two
interacting objects. Since an object can be charged positively or negatively, these quantities are often
expressed as "+" or "-" values. The sign on the charge is simply representative of whether the object has
an excess of electrons (a negatively charged object) or a shortage of electrons (a positively charged
object). It might be tempting to utilize the "+" and "-" signs in the calculations of force. While the practice
is not recommended, there is certainly no harm in doing so. When using the "+" and "-" signs in the
calculation of force, the result will be that a "-" value for force is a sign of an attractive force and a "+"
value for force signifies a repulsive force. Mathematically, the force value would be found to be positive
when Q1 and Q2 are of like charge - either both "+" or both "-". And the force value would be found to be
negative when Q1 and Q2 are of opposite charge - one is "+" and the other is "-".
COULOMB’S LAW
The experiment are related to the force exerted between two point charges which place near to
each other. The force is due to the electric fields produced by the point charges.

STATEMENT OF COULOMB’S LAW

The Coulombs law states that the force between the two point charges Q1 and Q2

1. Acts along the line joining the two point charges

2. Is directly proportional to the product of point charges Q1 and Q2

3. Is inversely proportional to the distance between those point charges

Formula used to represent the Coulomb’s law;

Q 1Q 2
F∝
R2

Q1 Q 2 ⃗
F=
⃗ ×R where; ε =8.854 × 10−12
4 π ε R3
Example question using Coulomb’s law

Find the force on 0.3mC due to a second charge of -0.1mC at (2, 0, 5)m in the free space

Q1 Q 2 ⃗
F 12=
⃗ .R
4 π ε R 3 12

STEP1 ; find distance between 2 points

F 12= (1-2)⃗
⃗ ux + (2-0)⃗
uy + (3-5)⃗
uz
ux+ 2⃗
= -1⃗ uy -2⃗
uz

STEP2 ; find magnitude of the vector

|R12|= √12 +22 +22

= √9
=3

STEP3 ; substitute into coulomb’s law equation

( 0.1m)(0.3 m)
F 12=
⃗ ux+ 2⃗
. (-1⃗ uy-2⃗
uz)
4 π (8.854 ×10−12)(3)3
ux+ 2⃗
= -9.99 (-1⃗ uy-2⃗
uz)
ux -19.98⃗
= 9.99⃗ uy +19.98⃗
uz

E ∧⃗
EXTRA NOTES: If the question asked to find ⃗ D.
F
E = while ⃗
⃗ D =ε 0 ⃗
E
Q