Calculating Electric Force Between Charges in a Dielectric Medium

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the electric force between two charges, 0.24 μC and 0.29 μC, in a dielectric medium with a dielectric constant (κ) of 2.0, separated by 0.42 m. The correct formula for electric force is F = (k * q1 * q2) / (r^2), where k is the electrostatic constant adjusted for the dielectric medium. The user initially calculated the force incorrectly by not incorporating the permittivity constant, leading to a significant discrepancy in results. The correct electric force is approximately 0.00177 N when the dielectric constant is properly applied.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Coulomb's Law and electric force calculations
  • Familiarity with dielectric materials and their properties
  • Knowledge of the permittivity constant in electrostatics
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of permittivity and its role in electric force calculations
  • Learn about the differences between the electrostatic constant and the dielectric constant
  • Explore examples of electric force calculations in various dielectric mediums
  • Investigate the effects of different dielectric constants on electric force
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Students in physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding electrostatics and the effects of dielectrics on electric forces.

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Electric force question help please!

I was just doing a question in my textbook and I got stuck on this question as my answer is no where near the given answer.

Two charges of magnitude 0.24 μC and 0.29 μC are in a liquid dielectric with dielectric constant κ = 2.0. The charges are separated by a distance of 0.42 m.

(i) What is the size of the electric force between the charges?

I got an answer of 3.314e-13N whilst theirs is 0.00177N


What am I doing wrong?? I'm using the F=kq1q2/r^2 formula, substituting 0.24 and 0.29 for q1/q2, using 2.0 as k and 0.42 for r.
 
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Recheck your formula; its quite wrong. For one thing, the permittivity constant is missing. Also do you think the electric force between charges is increased by placing a dielectric between them?
 


The k constant in "F=k..." is different than the "k" (or Greek kappa?) used for the dielectric constant.
 

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