Coulomb's Law PhET Simulation: Investigation of How Magnitude (size) of Charge Affects Electrostatic Force Part 1
For this part, we will be adjusting the size of CHARGE 1 ONLY.
Set the distance between the two charges for 4 cm
Set charge 2 for 8 µC
Given the charge values and the distances, determine the electrostatic force between the charged particles and if they are attracted, repelled, or neither.
**If two charges are attracted, their electrostatic force is negative** **If the two charges are repelled, their electrostatic force is positive**
Column A
1.
Trial 1: Force =:
Trial 1: Force =
2.
Trial 2: Force =:
Trial 2: Force =
3.
Trial 3: Force =:
Trial 3: Force =
4.
Trial 4: Force =:
Trial 4: Force =
5.
Trial 1: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?:
Trial 1: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?
6.
Trial 2: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?:
Trial 2: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?
7.
Trial 3: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?:
Trial 3: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?
8.
Trial 4: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?:
Trial 4: Are the two charge ions attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answers will vary based on the specific charge value chosen for CHARGE 1. However, for each trial, the force can be determined using Coulomb's Law equation:
Force = (k * q1 * q2) / d^2
Where k is the electrostatic constant (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2), q1 and q2 are the charges of the two particles, and d is the distance between them.
To determine if the particles are attracted or repelled, the sign of the force can be examined. If it is negative, the particles are attracted. If it is positive, they are repelled. If the force is zero, they are neither attracted nor repelled.
Sample answers (for CHARGE 1 set to -4 µC):
1. Trial 1: Force = -3.6 x 10^-3 N
2. Trial 2: Force = -7.2 x 10^-3 N
3. Trial 3: Force = -1.08 x 10^-2 N
4. Trial 4: Force = -1.44 x 10^-2 N
5. Trial 1: Attracted
6. Trial 2: Attracted
7. Trial 3: Attracted
8. Trial 4: Attracted
To determine the electrostatic force between the charged particles and whether they are attracted, repelled, or neither, we will use Coulomb's Law. Coulomb's Law states that the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Given:
Distance between the two charges: 4 cm
Charge 2: 8 µC
To find the electrostatic force, we need to calculate the force for each trial, and then determine whether the charges are attracted, repelled, or neither.
Column A:
1.
Using Coulomb's Law: Force = (k * |charge 1 * charge 2|) / distance^2
Substituting the given values:
Force = (k * |charge 1 * 8 µC|) / (4 cm)^2
2.
Using Coulomb's Law: Force = (k * |charge 1 * charge 2|) / distance^2
Substituting the given values:
Force = (k * |charge 1 * 8 µC|) / (4 cm)^2
3.
Using Coulomb's Law: Force = (k * |charge 1 * charge 2|) / distance^2
Substituting the given values:
Force = (k * |charge 1 * 8 µC|) / (4 cm)^2
4.
Using Coulomb's Law: Force = (k * |charge 1 * charge 2|) / distance^2
Substituting the given values:
Force = (k * |charge 1 * 8 µC|) / (4 cm)^2
5.
To determine whether the charges are attracted, repelled, or neither for Trial 1, compare the sign of the electrostatic force calculated in Column A-1 with the given information.
If the force is negative, the charges are attracted.
If the force is positive, the charges are repelled.
If the force is zero, the charges are neither attracted nor repelled.
6.
Repeat the same process for Trial 2.
7.
Repeat the same process for Trial 3.
8.
Repeat the same process for Trial 4.
Note: In all calculations, k represents the electrostatic constant, which has a value of 8.99 x 10^9 N·m^2/C^2.
To determine the electrostatic force between the charged particles and whether they are attracted, repelled, or neither, we need to use Coulomb's Law. Coulomb's Law states that the electrostatic force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
We are given the values of charge 2 (8 µC) and the distance between the charges (4 cm). Now, we need to adjust the size of charge 1 and calculate the electrostatic force for each trial.
To calculate the electrostatic force, we can use the formula:
Force = k * (|charge 1| * |charge 2|) / (distance^2)
Here, k is the electrostatic constant, which is approximately equal to 9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2.
Now, let's plug in the values and calculate the electrostatic force for each trial:
1. Trial 1:
Charge 1: Adjust the size of charge 1.
Distance: 4 cm = 0.04 m
Charge 2: 8 µC = 8 x 10^-6 C
Force = (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2) * (|charge 1| * 8 x 10^-6 C) / (0.04 m)^2
Calculate the value of Force for Trial 1. Repeat the process for the remaining trials:
2. Trial 2:
Charge 1: Adjust the size of charge 1.
Distance: 4 cm = 0.04 m
Charge 2: 8 µC = 8 x 10^-6 C
Force = (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2) * (|charge 1| * 8 x 10^-6 C) / (0.04 m)^2
Calculate the value of Force for Trial 2.
3. Trial 3:
Charge 1: Adjust the size of charge 1.
Distance: 4 cm = 0.04 m
Charge 2: 8 µC = 8 x 10^-6 C
Force = (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2) * (|charge 1| * 8 x 10^-6 C) / (0.04 m)^2
Calculate the value of Force for Trial 3.
4. Trial 4:
Charge 1: Adjust the size of charge 1.
Distance: 4 cm = 0.04 m
Charge 2: 8 µC = 8 x 10^-6 C
Force = (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2) * (|charge 1| * 8 x 10^-6 C) / (0.04 m)^2
Calculate the value of Force for Trial 4.
Once you have calculated the electrostatic force for each trial, you can determine if the two charged ions are attracted, repelled, or neither based on the sign of the force:
If the force is negative, it means the two charges are attracted.
If the force is positive, it means the two charges are repelled.
If the force is zero, it means the two charges are neither attracted nor repelled.
Record the electrostatic force and the attraction/repulsion for each trial in Column A.