Coulomb's Constant In Calculator Value

Coulomb's Constant Value:

\[ k = 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \]

Electrostatic Force (F):

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1. What is Coulomb's Constant?

Coulomb's constant (k) is a proportionality constant in Coulomb's Law that relates the electrostatic force between two charges to their magnitudes and the distance between them. Its value is approximately \( 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law:

\[ F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \]

Where:

\( F \) — Electrostatic force (N)
\( k \) — Coulomb's constant (\( 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \))
\( q_1, q_2 \) — Electric charges (C)
\( r \) — Distance between charges (m)

Explanation: The force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

3. Importance of Coulomb's Constant

Details: Coulomb's constant is fundamental in electrostatics calculations, determining the strength of the electric force between charged particles. It's essential for understanding atomic structure, electrical phenomena, and designing electrical systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the two charges in Coulombs (can be positive or negative) and the distance between them in meters. The calculator will compute the magnitude of the electrostatic force.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is Coulomb's constant so large?
A: The large value (8.99×10⁹) compensates for the typically small charges and distances in electrostatic calculations, making the resulting forces measurable.

Q2: How is Coulomb's constant related to the permittivity of free space?
A: \( k = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \), where \( \varepsilon_0 \) is the electric constant (permittivity of free space).

Q3: Does Coulomb's constant change in different media?
A: The effective constant changes in different materials due to their relative permittivity, but the fundamental constant remains the same.

Q4: What are typical values for charges in calculations?
A: Elementary charge is ~1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic charges are typically in microcoulombs (µC) to millicoulombs (mC).

Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides classical electrostatic calculations valid for stationary point charges in vacuum. Quantum effects are not considered.