Coulomb's Law Calculation: Electric Force between Electron and Potassium Nucleus

In summary, Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the force between two stationary, charged particles. It is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. In studying potassium, Coulomb's Law is essential in understanding its behavior and properties in chemical reactions. However, it cannot be used to determine the strength of a compound. According to Coulomb's Law, the force between two charged particles decreases as the distance between them increases.
  • #1
themadhatter1
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Homework Statement


An electron is separated from a potassium nucleus (charge 19e) by a distance of 5.2 X 10-10m. what is the electric force between these particles? (e = 1.60 X 10-19C, Kc= 8.99 X 109 N*m2/C2)

Homework Equations



Felectric= Kc[(q1)(q2)/r2]

The Attempt at a Solution



Felectric= 8.99 X 109[(19e)(-1.6 X 10-19)/(5.2 X 10-10)2]

Felectric= -1.62 X 10-8

Is this correct?
 
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  • #2
Yeah looks good, don't forget your units though.
 

1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the force between two stationary, charged particles. It states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

2. How does Coulomb's Law relate to potassium?

Coulomb's Law is used to determine the force between two charged particles, such as the positively charged potassium ions and the negatively charged particles in its surroundings. This force is what allows potassium to interact with other particles and form compounds.

3. What is the significance of Coulomb's Law in studying potassium?

Coulomb's Law is essential in understanding the behavior and properties of potassium in chemical reactions. It helps scientists predict and explain how potassium ions will interact with other charged particles and how this affects the overall chemical reaction.

4. Can Coulomb's Law be used to determine the strength of a potassium compound?

No, Coulomb's Law only applies to the force between two individual charged particles. It cannot be used to determine the strength of a compound, which is determined by a combination of factors such as the type of bonds and their arrangement in the compound.

5. How does the distance between charged particles affect the force according to Coulomb's Law?

According to Coulomb's Law, the force between two charged particles decreases as the distance between them increases. This means that the closer the charged particles are, the stronger the force between them will be.

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