Coulomb’s Law

-19
1 p = 1.6x10 C
- -19
1 e = -1.6x10 C
1 2
=
2
9 2 2
= 9 × 10 ⁄
= 1
4

= 8.85 × 10−12 2⁄ . 2

1 2
=
2

→ 1
−2
10 1 =1

−6
10

1 → 1 =1×

−3
10 1 =1×
10−3
→ 1 =1×10−9

1. A +10uC point charge is 25cm away from a-20uC point charge. Calculate the
magnitude of the electric force between them.
12
=
2
9 −6 −6
(9×10 )(10×10 )(20×10 )
=
(25×10 −2 )2
= 28.8

2. The electric force between two

point charges with a magnitude of
+800nC and +900nC in 15N. How
far apart are the two charges from
each other in centimeter?
-9
q1 = 800x10 C
-9
q2 = 900x10 C
. 2
= 12
=√ 12

=
√(9×109)(800×10−9 )(900×10 −9 )
15
=
0.02078 × 1000 1 = 2.07

3. A force of 500N exists between two identical point charges separated by a distance of
40cm. Calculate the magnitude of the two point charges.
q q
+ +

F F

r= 40cm = 0.40 m
2
F= Kqq/ r
2 2 2 2
r (F)/ K= kq /r x r /k
2 1/2 2 1/2
(q ) = (Fr /k)
2 1/2
q= (Fr /k)
2 9 2 2 1/2
q= ((500N) (0.40m) / 9x10 N. m /c )
-5
q= 9.428 x10 c
q= 94.28 mC
-6 -
4. How many electrons represent a charge of -70uC -70uCx 1 x10 c/ 1uC x 1e/-1.6x10
19
C
-19
1e= -1.6x10 C
14 -
=4.375x10 e
14 14 19
5. What is the electric charge in uC of 5 x10 protons? 5x10 p x 1.6x10 C/ 1p x
-6
1mC/1x10 C
=+80mC
21 21
6. A metal sphere has 4.3 x10 protons and 6.8x10 electrons. What is the net electric
charge of this metal sphere?
-19
Q= [ p-e] ( 1.6 x 10 C)
2 21 -
Q= {4.3 x 10 - 6.8x10 ) (1.6 x10
14 21 -19
C) Q= [-2.5x10 ] (1.6x10 C)
Q= -400C
7. A +100 uC charge is placed at the origin. A -50uC charge is placed at x= 2m and a
+200 uC is placed at x= -4m. (a) What is the net electric force acting on the +100 uC charge?
(b) What is the net electric force acting on the +200 uC charge?

Q1 Q2
Q3
4m
2m
+ + -
200 uC 100mC -50uC

F2,1
F2,3

(a) Fnet= F2,1+

= F2,3
2 9 -6 -6 2
F2,1= Kq1q2/ r = 9x10 (200x10 ) (100x10 ) /4
F2,1= 11.25 N
2 9 -6 -6 2
F2,3=Kq2q3/r = 9x10 (100x10 ) (50x10 )/ 2
F2,3= 11.25N

Fnet= F2,1+ F2,3

= 11.25 +11.25 = 22.5 N

q1 F1,3=2.5N q2
q3

+ + -

200uC 100mC
-59uC
- F1,2 + F1,3
/F1,2/=/ F2,1/
2 9 -6 -6 2
F1,3= Kq1q3/r = 9x10 (200 x10 ) (50x 10 ) / 6
Fnet = F1,2 + F1,3
= - 11.25 + 2.5 = -8.75 N

ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO POINT CHARGES - PHYSICS PROBLEMS

1. A force of 100N is directed north on a -20uC point charge. What is the magnitude and
direction of the electric field at this point?

θ = 270°

F 100N

E= q =
20x10−6C = 5

2. A positive charge of +50uC is placed in a electric field of 50,000 N/C directed upward.
What mass should the charge have to remain suspended in the air?
∑ = − =0
=
=

−6
m = 50,000 N/C (50x10 C)
2
(9.8m/s )

= = 0.255
3. An electron is released from rest in a uniform electric field and accelerates to the east
at a rate o 4.0x10^6 m/s^2 . What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field?
∑ =

F=

ma (9.11x10 −31kg)(4x106m/s2)

E= = −1.602x10 −19C
q
−5
E = 2.27x10 N/C

Be familiar with the constant charges of protons and electrons.

4. A +40uC point charge is placed at the origin. Calculate the magnitude of the
electric field created by the point charge at the following locations: (a) Point P (5m,0)
(b) Point S (3m, 4m).

Q
+ p
5m

East
E=
KQ
r2
9 −6
= (9x10 )(40x10 c)
2
(5m)
E = 14,400 N⁄c

E
r 4m
+
3m 2 2 2
= +
2 2 2
=3 +4
2
=9+16=25
4
tan =3

θ = tan−1(43)
θ = 53.1°

E=
KQ
r2
9 −6
= (9x10 )(40x10 c)
2
(5m)
E = 14,400 N⁄c @ 53.1° N of E

N
5. An electron, initially at rest, is placed in an electric field of 2x104 ⁄C directed to the west. The distance
between the plates is 1cm. (a) What is the acceleration of the electron due to the electric field? (b) What will be
the speed of the electron after it leaves the hole?
F = Eq

4 −19
Eq (2×10 )(1.602×10 c)

a= m
= (9.11×10
−31
kg)

15 m
a = 3.517 × 10 ⁄s2

e− v=0 v =? d = 1cm

o F

vF2 = vo2 + 2ad

vF = √vo + 2ad
2

v = √0 + 2(3.517 × 1015)(0.01)
F
2

vF = √7.034 × 1013
m
E vF = 8.39 × 10 6 ⁄s

F
6. A +200uC charge is placed at the origin and a -300uC is placed 1m to the right
of it. What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field midway between the two
charges and 30cm to the right of the negative charge?
Enet = E1 + E2
KQ KQ
Enet = 1
+ 2

2 2
r1 r2

Enet = rK2 (Q1 + Q2)

Q1 +E1 E2 Q2
9×10 9 −6 −6
Enet = (200 × 10 + 300 × 10 )
0.5 2

Enet = E1 − E2
KQ 1 KQ 2

1m
Enet = −

r2 r2

r1 r2 1 2

r1 = r2 = 0.5m = r Enet = 9 −6
9×10 (200×10 ) − 9 −6
9×10 (300×10 )

2 2
1.3 0.3

Q1 1m Q2 0.3m Enet = 1.065 × 106 − 3 × 107 Enet = −2.89 × 107 N⁄C

E1
E2
7. The electric field at point X 2m to the right of a certain positive charge is
100 N/C. What will the magnitude of the new electric field if (a) the magnitude
of the positive charge doubles in value. (b) the distance between the charge and
point X doubles. (c) the distance between the charge and point X reduces by a factor
of 3. (d) the magnitude of the charge triples and the distance is reduced to ¼ of its
original value.

2m x =


2

+  *
1(2)

100 N/C =
2
=2

(1)(1)

2 200 N/C =
22

x
1


Q  * = 4

25 N/C

(1)(1)

↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ =
1 2

( )

↓ ↑ ↓ ↑

1 ∙9

x =
1

∙ 9

(1)(3)

 
Q * =
1
2

( 4 )

2/3m 9 N/C = =9

3 ∙16

=
1
= 48
∙16

16

4800N/C ↑ ↓ ↑

8. Two identical point charges with a magnitude of +100uC are separated by a

distance of 1m as shown below. (a) at what point will the net electric field be equal to zero?
st
(b) If the charge on Q2 doubles to +200uC, where along the x-axis relative to the 1 charge
will the net electric field be equal to zero?
x=0.5m x=0.5m
A Q1 B Q2 C Enet = 0
+ +
1m Enet = 1 – 2=0

1 1 1 1 = 2


 
2 2 2

1 2

   =

2 2

  1 2

Q1 1m Q2
1 1

A B C 2
=
2

(1− )

+ +
100MC  200MC 2
= (1 − )2

2 1

2
200 100 (1− )2

 =

100 100
2 2
√2 = √(1 − )


 
Q1 1m Q2 √2 =1−

A P B C

+ + 1.414 = 1 − 1

100MC 200MC +1 ↓ +1

  
1 2 2.414 = 1

  
x 1–x
2.414 = 1
2.414 2.414

= 0.414