An Electric force is the repulsive or attractive interaction between any two charged bodies. Its impact affects a given body, as described by Newton’s law of motion. These types of forces are common as they act on various objects. Learn about the three Newton’s laws of motion here!
Newton’s law is used in this situation to analyze the motion under the influence of the force type or combination of forces. This analysis begins by developing a free body image wherein the direction and types of the individual forces shown by the vector to calculate the resultant sum.
The resultant sum is known as the net force, which can be used to calculate the body’s acceleration.
Now, let’s go deep to explain what an electric force is, its formula, and examples. We’ll also discuss what coulomb’s law of electric force is, and what it states!
Contents
What is Electric Force?
The electric force is an attractive or repulsive interaction between two charged bodies. Just as it is used in our everyday life, the term “force” can be look in different form and areas. In physics, a force in an interaction between two objects, has the ability to change the motion of one or both of the objects.
The electric force exists as one of the most fundamental forces of the universe. It occurs between all charged particles. The electric force between two electrons is equal to the one between two protons if placed at an equal distance. Hence, electric force depends on the quantity known as electric charge, not on the mass of the object.
The difference between electric force and electrostatic force is that the charged particles moves in a field in an electric force, which means, a particles moves in relation to another charged particle or body. while electrostatic force occurs between two stationary particles or body electric charge
Coulomb’s Law of Electric Force
Coulomb’s law states that, the value of the electrostatic force of interaction between two point charges is directly proportional to the scalar multiplication of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance among them.
Coulomb’s law explains the experimental law that quantifies the amount of force between two stationary electrically charged particles. The electric force between the stationary charged body is what we called electrostatic force or coulomb’s force. Thus, coulomb’s law describe the amount of electro static force between stationary charges.
Electric Force Formula
Just as mentioned earlier, electric charge occurs in charged particles that can be found inside atoms known as protons (positive) and electrons (negative). They are the smallest charged particles that existed.
What are the Examples of an Electric Force?
Below are 20 examples of electric force in everyday life and physics:
- Static cling on clothes: After drying clothes, they can stick together due to the electric force from built-up static charge.
- Lightning: The electric force drives the discharge between clouds and the ground.
- Hair standing on end: Rubbing a balloon on your hair transfers electrons, creating an electric force that makes your hair stand up.
- Electrostatic attraction of dust: Dust particles can be attracted to surfaces like screens or mirrors due to electric force.
- Plastic wrap clinging to objects: When you pull plastic wrap, it can cling to surfaces due to electric force.
- Charged comb attracting small paper pieces: Rubbing a comb and bringing it near tiny pieces of paper makes them jump towards it.
- Attraction between opposite charges in atoms: The force between protons and electrons holds atoms together.
- Repulsion between like charges: When two like-charged objects are near each other, they repel due to electric force.
- Force between charged particles in capacitors: Capacitors store energy using the electric force between separated charges.
- Van de Graaff generator demonstrations: The electric force makes hair stand up or creates sparks in physics demonstrations.
- Attraction of charged balloons to walls: A charged balloon can stick to a wall due to electric force.
- Electrostatic forces in photocopiers: Photocopiers use electric force to attract toner particles to paper.
- Attraction of ions in ionic bonding: In chemical bonding, electric force pulls together oppositely charged ions.
- Repulsion in particle accelerators: Charged particles are repelled by electric fields in accelerators.
- Electric force in spark plugs: A high voltage creates an electric force that generates a spark in engines.
- Force between charged rods in experiments: Physicists demonstrate electric force using charged rods repelling or attracting each other.
- Sticking of Styrofoam to surfaces: Styrofoam can stick due to the electric charge it picks up.
- Electrostatic precipitators: Used in industries to remove dust from exhaust gases by applying electric force.
- Force between charged clouds: Electric forces cause the separation and buildup of charges in storm clouds.
- Electric force in biological cells: Ion channels rely on electric forces to move ions across cell membranes.
Learn about how force changes the state of motion here!
That is all for this article, where i explained what an electric force is, its formula, and examples, and what coulomb’s law of electric force is, and what it state. I hope it was helpful, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!
