1. What is Coulomb's Constant?

Coulomb's constant (k) is a proportionality constant in Coulomb's Law that describes the electrostatic force between two charged particles. Its value is approximately 8.9875517923×10⁹ N·m²/C².

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Coulomb's Law:

Where:

• \( F \) — Electrostatic force (N)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.9875517923×10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( q_1, q_2 \) — 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, governing the interaction between charged particles. It's crucial for understanding atomic structure, chemical bonding, and electromagnetic phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both charges in Coulombs (can be positive or negative) and distance in meters. The distance must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is Coulomb's constant so large?
A: The large value compensates for the typically small charges (in Coulombs) and makes the resulting force measurable in newtons.

Q2: How was Coulomb's constant determined?
A: It's derived from the electric constant (ε₀) in a vacuum: \( k = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \).

Q3: Does Coulomb's constant change in different media?
A: In materials other than vacuum, the effective constant is reduced by the material's relative permittivity.

Q4: What's the relationship between k and gravitational constant G?
A: Both are inverse-square law constants, but k is for electromagnetic forces while G is for gravitational forces.

Q5: Can this calculator be used for point charges only?
A: The calculator assumes point charges or spherical charge distributions. For complex geometries, integration is needed.