Understanding the Force Between Charges: Demystifying the fe = kq1q2/r^2 Formula

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SUMMARY

The formula for calculating the electrostatic force between two charges is given by fe = kq1q2/r^2, where k is Coulomb's constant. This formula applies specifically to point charges and does not account for neutral objects or uneven charge distributions. For configurations involving non-point charges or neutral objects, integration techniques must be employed to accurately determine the force. Understanding these limitations is crucial for applying the formula correctly in various scenarios.

PREREQUISITES
  • Coulomb's Law and its components
  • Understanding of point charges
  • Basic calculus for integration
  • Concept of electric charge distribution
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  • Study the applications of Coulomb's Law in different charge configurations
  • Learn about electric field concepts and their relation to charge distributions
  • Explore integration techniques for calculating forces between non-point charges
  • Investigate the implications of charge neutrality in electrostatic interactions
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in electrostatics and the fundamental principles of charge interactions.

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I'm a little confused by the formula used to find the charge between 2 charges. The formula is fe = kq1q2/r^2. How does this work for two objects such as a neutral object and a charged object? They are attracted to each other due to distribution of the charges, but the formula doesn't show that. Does this formula only work if the two objects have evenly distributed charges?
 
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The formula only works between point charges. To get the force between other configurations you have to integrate.
 
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Thread 'Colors in a plasma globe'

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