Electric Forces: Find Separation Force

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the concept of "separation force" in the context of electric forces between two equal and opposite charges, with a focus on Coulomb's Law.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definition of "separation force" and whether it refers to the sum of forces on both charges or just the force on one charge. There is a focus on understanding the implications of Coulomb's Law in this context.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights regarding the nature of the separation force, indicating that it may refer specifically to the force of repulsion between the charges. However, there remains some confusion about the terminology and its implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definition of "separation force" and its relation to the forces acting on individual charges, highlighting a need for clarity in terminology.

anonymousphys
Messages
29
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



So, we have two opposite and equal charges with a distance r between them, and we want to find the "separation force".

Homework Equations


Coulomb's Law


The Attempt at a Solution


Is the separation force the sum of the electric forces on both particles? Or is it the force on just one particle?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
anonymousphys said:

Homework Equations


Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's law would give the force of attraction/repulsion between two charges Q1 & Q2 separated by a distance r.
 
rock.freak667 said:
Coulomb's law would give the force of attraction/repulsion between two charges Q1 & Q2 separated by a distance r.

Thanks, but my main confusion is coming from the term "separation force". Is it the sum of the forces acting on both particles?
 
anonymousphys said:
Thanks, but my main confusion is coming from the term "separation force". Is it the sum of the forces acting on both particles?

No the separation force is just the force of repulsion between them. Remember the force on each charge is the same.
 

Similar threads

Discontinuity in an Electric line of force
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Find the magnitude of the electric force from 3 charges at vertices of a cube
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
How can voltage between unlike charges decrease with proximity?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Force between poles of two magnets
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Find spring constant k using an electrical circuit
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Induced charge on a conducting sphere sliced by a plane
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
How can the force of a normal reaction be electromagnetic?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Electron bound to proton by gravity
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Lorentz force and induced electric field
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Point charge with very thin metal sheet along a spherical surface
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K