COULOMBS LAW AND

ELECTRIC FIELD
INTENSITY

Electric power transmission, X-ray machines, and

lightning protection are associated with strong
electric fields and will require a knowledge of
electrostatics to understand and design suitable
equipment.

Take risks:
if you win, you will be happy;
if you lose you will be wise.
PETER KREEFT

ELECTROSTATICS
The branch of science which deals with the
phenomena associated with electricity at rest.
Charge
-the total deficiency or excess of electrons in a body
is known as its charge.

ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE

PERMITTIVITY OF A MEDIUM
Every medium is supposed to possess these two
permittivities.
Vacuum or free space- reference medium for
measuring relative permittivity.

Has an absolute permittivity of 8.854 x 10-12

F/m

ABSOLUTE PERMITTIVITY

LAWS OF ELECTROSTATICS
First law : Like charges of electricity repel each
other, whereas unlike charges attack.
Second law: according to this law, the force
exerted between two point charges is directly
proportional to the product of their strength and
inversely proportional to the square of the distace
between them.

COULOMBS LAW AND FIELD

INTENSITY
Coulomb's law is an experimental law formulated
in 1785 by the French colonel, Charles Augustin
de Coulomb
It deals with the force a point charge exerts on
another point charge.
By a point charge we mean a charge that is
located on a body whose dimensions are much
smaller than other relevant dimensions.

COULOMBS LAW

Coulomb's law states that the force F

between two point charges Q1 and Q2 is

1. Along the line joining them

2. Directly proportional to the product Q1Q2 of
the charges
3. Inversely proportional to the square of the
distance R between them

Where k = proportionality constant

Q and Q = in coulombs
1
2

Distance R = in meters
Force F = in Newtons (N)

k= 1/ 4o

o=permittivity of free space

F= 9 x109 Q1Q2/ rR2

EXAMPLE

Consider a charge of 3 x 10-4 C at P (1,2,3) and a

charge of -10-4 C at Q(2,0,5) in a vacuum. Solve
for the force exerted on Q2 by Q1.

EXAMPLE 2

A 2 mC (millicoulomb) positive charge is located

in vacuum at P1 (3,-2,-4) and 5C(microcoulomb)
negative charge is at P2(1,-4,2)
A. Find the vector force on the negative charge.