Question

Two point charges each carrying a charge of + 4.5 E - 6 C are located 4.5 meters away from each other. How strong is the electrostatic force between the two points and is this force a repulsive force or an attractive force (k = 9.0 E9 Nm2/C2)? Show your work.

Answer 1

Start out by drawing a picture and list out the important information. I'll help you along.

Answer 2

I have no clue how to do it at all.. Thats my problem.

Answer 3

So in your own words, describe to me what's going on as best as you can and we'll go from there.

Answer 4

Well, we have two charges. They are each +4.5E-6C. They are 4.5 meters away from eachother. I need to find the electrostatic force between the two. I know that it is repulsive, since they are both positive. I don't know what equation I should use.

Answer 5

Alright cool, so basically you're telling me we have this:



Now, have you seen this equation before:

\[F=k_e\frac{ q_1 q_2 }{ d^2 }\]

That basically means the force gets stronger as the distance decreases, just think about how fractions work, larger numbers in the denominator means smaller value of the fraction right? That makes sense. Also, as the charge increases the force increases which also makes sense. Ke is just the coulomb constant to scale everything in terms of how forces are measured.

I can clarify anything more, this is just a rough sort of explanation to help get the idea across.

Answer 6

Okay. I'm just confused on what numbers we plug in where?

Answer 7

I'll give you a second to look at the picture and then at the formula and then at the stuff you were given. I think you can figure it out.

Answer 8

Ohh. Haha thanks. xD

Answer 9

Awesome =D