Coulomb's Law PhET Simulation: Investigation of How Direction of Charge Affects Electrostatic Force
For this part, we will be adjusting the direction of the charges
(positive/negative).
Set the distance between the two charges for 6 cm
Pay close attention to the sign on the charges (+/-)
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 5:Force=:
Trial 5:Force=
6.
Trial 1: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
7.
Trial 2: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
8.
Trial 3: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
9.
Trial 4: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
10.
Trial 5: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Column B
a. - 359.502 N
b. - 39.889 N
c. - 719.004 N
d. 0 N
e. Repelled
f. Attracted
g. 179.751 N
h. - 269.627 N
i. - 89.876 N
j. Neither
k. 39.889 N
l. 89.876 N
m. - 179.751 N
n. 44.938 N
o. - 44.938 N
Answers may vary depending on the specific values used in the simulation, but here is an example:
Column A
1. Trial 1: Force = -359.502 N
2. Trial 2: Force = 39.889 N
3. Trial 3: Force = -719.004 N
4. Trial 4: Force = 0 N
5. Trial 5: Force = -44.938 N
6. Trial 1: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither? Repelled
7. Trial 2: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither? Attracted
8. Trial 3: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither? Repelled
9. Trial 4: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither? Neither
10. Trial 5: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither? Repelled
Column B
a. - 359.502 N (charged particles are repelled)
b. - 39.889 N (charged particles are attracted)
c. - 719.004 N (charged particles are repelled)
d. 0 N (charged particles have no force)
e. Repelled (charged particles are repelled)
f. Attracted (charged particles are attracted)
g. 179.751 N (charged particles are attracted)
h. - 269.627 N (charged particles are repelled)
i. - 89.876 N (charged particles are repelled)
j. Neither (charged particles have no force)
k. 39.889 N (charged particles are attracted)
l. 89.876 N (charged particles are attracted)
m. - 179.751 N (charged particles are repelled)
n. 44.938 N (charged particles are attracted)
o. - 44.938 N (charged particles are repelled)
To determine the electrostatic force between the charged particles and if they are attracted, repelled, or neither, follow these steps:
Column A:
1. Trial 1: Charge 1 and Charge 2: Positive (+) and Negative (-) respectively
Distance: 6 cm
Force = -359.502 N
The charged particles are attracted.
2. Trial 2: Charge 1 and Charge 2: Negative (-) and Positive (+) respectively
Distance: 6 cm
Force = -39.889 N
The charged particles are attracted.
3. Trial 3: Charge 1 and Charge 2: Negative (-) and Negative (-) respectively
Distance: 6 cm
Force = -719.004 N
The charged particles are attracted.
4. Trial 4: Charge 1 and Charge 2: Positive (+) and Positive (+) respectively
Distance: 6 cm
Force = 0 N
The charged particles neither attract nor repel each other.
5. Trial 5: Charge 1 and Charge 2: Negative (-) and Negative (-) respectively
Distance: 6 cm
Force = -44.938 N
The charged particles are attracted.
Column B:
a. - 359.502 N
b. - 39.889 N
c. - 719.004 N
d. 0 N
e. Repelled
f. Attracted
g. 179.751 N
h. - 269.627 N
i. - 89.876 N
j. Neither
k. 39.889 N
l. 89.876 N
m. - 179.751 N
n. 44.938 N
o. - 44.938 N
6. Trial 1: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answer: Attracted
7. Trial 2: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answer: Attracted
8. Trial 3: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answer: Attracted
9. Trial 4: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answer: Neither
10. Trial 5: Are the charged ions particles attracted, repelled, or neither?
Answer: Attracted