Q2

Definition

q2 is a term used in the context of Coulomb's law, which describes the force between two stationary, electrically charged particles. It represents the square of the magnitude of the charge on one of the particles involved in the interaction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges.
2. The force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
3. The SI unit for electric charge is the coulomb (C), named after the French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.
4. The magnitude of the electric force between two charged particles is given by the formula: $F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}$, where $k$ is the Coulomb constant, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges, and $r$ is the distance between them.
5. The Coulomb constant, $k$, has a value of approximately $8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{C}^2$.

Review Questions

• Explain how the magnitude of the charge on one of the particles, represented by q2, affects the electric force between two charged particles according to Coulomb's law.
  • According to Coulomb's law, the electric force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges. This means that as the magnitude of the charge on one of the particles, represented by q2, increases, the electric force between the two particles also increases. The force is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the charge, so doubling the charge on one particle will result in a four-fold increase in the electric force between them.
• Describe how the distance between two charged particles, represented by the variable r, affects the electric force between them according to Coulomb's law.
  • Coulomb's law states that the electric force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance, r, between the two particles increases, the electric force between them decreases. Specifically, if the distance between the particles is doubled, the electric force between them will be reduced by a factor of four, since the force is proportional to 1/r^2. Conversely, as the distance between the particles decreases, the electric force between them increases dramatically.
• Analyze how changes in both the charge magnitude, q2, and the distance, r, between two charged particles would affect the electric force between them according to Coulomb's law.
  • According to Coulomb's law, the electric force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that if both the charge magnitude, q2, and the distance, r, between the particles were to change, the electric force would be affected in a complex way. Specifically, if the charge magnitude were to increase while the distance remained constant, the electric force would increase proportionally to the square of the charge. Conversely, if the distance between the particles were to increase while the charge remained constant, the electric force would decrease proportionally to the inverse square of the distance. Understanding how these two variables, charge and distance, interact to determine the electric force is crucial for applying Coulomb's law in various physics problems.

Related terms

Coulomb's Law: Coulomb's law is a fundamental principle in electrostatics that states the force between two stationary, electrically charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Electric Charge: Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that can be positive or negative. It is the source of the electric force, which can attract or repel other charged particles.

Electric Force: Electric force is the force of interaction between two electrically charged particles. It can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the signs of the charges.