SUMMARY
The electrostatic force exerted by a proton on an electron is equal in magnitude to the force exerted by an electron on a proton, as established by Newton's Third Law of Motion. The gravitational force, however, is negligible in comparison due to the significantly smaller mass of the electron relative to the proton. The relevant equation for calculating the electrostatic force is F = kq1q2 / r², where k is the Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between the charges. The forces remain consistent regardless of which particle is being acted upon, affirming the symmetry in electrostatic interactions.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of Newton's Third Law of Motion
- Familiarity with Coulomb's Law and the equation F = kq1q2 / r²
- Basic knowledge of electrostatics and gravitational forces
- Concept of mass and charge in physics
NEXT STEPS
- Study the implications of Newton's Third Law in various physical systems
- Explore Coulomb's Law in-depth, including applications in electrostatics
- Investigate the differences between gravitational and electrostatic forces
- Learn about the role of mass and charge in particle interactions
USEFUL FOR
Students of physics, educators teaching electrostatics, and anyone interested in the fundamental forces governing particle interactions.