Calculating the Force Between Two Electrons at a Distance of 2 Angstroms

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The discussion centers on calculating the force between two electrons positioned 2 Angstroms apart using Coulomb's law. The formula applied is F(r) = (q1*q2)/(4*(pi)*e*r^2), with the charge of electrons set as e^2. Participants calculate the force and consistently arrive at approximately 5.76 nN, while the textbook claims the answer is 7.1999 nN. This discrepancy leads to the conclusion that the textbook may contain an error, as multiple users confirm the same result. Overall, the consensus is that the calculations are correct, suggesting the textbook's answer is flawed.
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Okay so I'm working on a question for practice and I'm sure I'm getting the right answer but the answer they give me is something different. Anyway the exact question is:

An electron is located at the origin of the coordinates, and a second electron is brought to a position 2 Angstroms from the origin. Calculate the force between the two electrons.

I'm guessing I need to use the equation:

F(r) = (q1*q2)/(4*(pi)*e*r2)

Where q1 and q2 are the magnitude of the charge of the electrons, which I'm taking to be e2 or (1.602E-19)2

Where pi is pi, ie 3.14159...etc

Where e is the vacuum permittivity constant, 8.854E-12

Where r is the distance between the two electrons in meters which I'm taking to be 2E-10 since 1 angstrom is 10-10 meters

Anyways I do the calculations and I'm getting 5.7666E-9 Newtons but in the back of the problem book it says the answer is 7.1999E-9 Newtons

It's close but I'm wondering if there's some trick to the problem or something I missed. Can someone confirm or dispute if I'm doing this correctly?
 
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I get 5.75. Used Coulomb's constant k = 8.99 x 10^9 instead of your 4*pi*ε.
 
Delphi51 said:
I get 5.75. Used Coulomb's constant k = 8.99 x 10^9 instead of your 4*pi*ε.

both k and 1/4*pi*ε are same ...

and i am also getting same answer i.e. 5.76 nN
so it seems the book is wrong somewhere
 
same answer here.
 
Well I entered the question exactly as it appears in the book so if we're all getting a different answer I guess it is just a problem with the book. Let's hear it for crummy 137$ textbooks.
 
sue the writer :smile:
 
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