Electric Forces: Find Separation Force

[anonymousphys]

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?

 

[rock.freak667]

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.

 

[anonymousphys]

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?

 

[rock.freak667]

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.