Exploring the Mystery of Coulomb Force

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of Coloumb force between two point charges, with one being neutral and the other being positively charged. The formula suggests that there should be no force between them, but there is an attraction. However, it is clarified that this force cannot occur between a charged and a neutral body. The discussion then delves into the explanation for the observed attraction between a charged plastic rod and a neutral piece of paper, with the conclusion that this is due to induced dipoles in the paper. The conversation also briefly mentions a figure in Serway Physics that shows an attractive force between a neutral and positively charged point charge, but it is noted that this may vary depending on the edition of the book.
  • #1
cherev
6
0
about coloumb?

i wonder why two point charge whose magnitude 0 and +q(or smt different from zero charge) exert a coloumb force to one another
.formula says there shoud be no force acting to each other(because of multiplication q1.q2=0) but there is an atraction between them .
if this force exist what the magnitude is.
thanks for your reply..
 
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  • #2
cherev said:
i wonder why two point charge whose magnitude 0 and +q(or smt different from zero charge) exert a coloumb force to one another
They don't exert a Coloumb force on one another because, as you state below, q1*q2=0

.formula says there shoud be no force acting to each other(because of multiplication q1.q2=0) but there is an atraction between them .
no, there isn't.

if this force exist what the magnitude is.
thanks for your reply..
magnitude = 0
 
  • #3
The electromagnetic interaction cannot occur between a charged and a neutral body.

What says there is an attraction between them? Does it explicitly say this attraction is electromagnetic?
 
  • #4
but why neutral piece of paper and charged plastic rod attract each other
 
  • #5
Induced dipoles in the paper.

The plastic rod (charged negative, IIRC) pushes electrons away from the near side of the paper, resulting in a shift of the charge centers with the positive charge center nearer the rod. This means the net force of attraction between the rod and the positive charges in the paper is slightly greater than the net force of repulsion between the rod and the negative charges of the paper. Hence, an overall net force.
 
  • #6
cherev said:
but why neutral piece of paper and charged plastic rod attract each other

those are not point charges.
 
  • #7
but ı have seen a figure on serway physics which shows atractive force between neutral and positive charged point charge on page 786
 
  • #8
I'm looking at p786 and there isn't a diagram of point charges. I've got 6th edn, what's the figure number? Is it P25.30?
 
  • #9
ı have 5th edition and its may be different because I am not in u.s.a but figure is showed in gauss law
 
  • #10
what number? There's a lot of figures in the section Gauss' Law!
 

1. What is Coulomb's law?

Coulomb's law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the electrostatic interaction between charged particles. It states that the 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.

2. How is Coulomb's law derived?

Coulomb's law is derived from the principles of electrostatics and Newton's second law of motion. It can be derived mathematically using vector calculus, or by using Gauss's law and the principle of superposition.

3. What is the unit of measurement for Coulomb's law?

The unit of measurement for Coulomb's law is the Newton (N). However, in the SI system, the unit of charge is the Coulomb (C), so the law is often written in terms of Coulombs (N.m2/C2).

4. How does Coulomb's law apply to real-world situations?

Coulomb's law is applicable to a wide range of real-world situations, including the behavior of atoms and molecules, the interactions between electrical charges in electronic devices, and the forces between celestial bodies.

5. What factors affect the strength of the Coulomb force?

The strength of the Coulomb force is affected by the magnitude of the charges involved, the distance between them, and the medium in which the charges are located. The force is stronger for larger charges, decreases with increasing distance, and can be affected by the presence of other charged particles in the surrounding environment.

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