Coulomb's Law - General Physics 2

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Coulomb's Law and the interaction of electric charges, helping to prepare for the exam.

What is Coulomb's Law?

The magnitude of the electric force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

What happens when two like charges are placed near each other?

Like charges repel each other.

What happens when two unlike charges are placed near each other?

Unlike charges attract each other.

What is the unit of electric charge?

Electric charge is measured in coulombs.

What is the effect of increasing the distance between two charges according to Coulomb’s Law?

The force between the two charges decreases.

What happens to the force between two charges if the distance between them is decreased?

The force between the two charges increases.

What do free-body diagrams represent in physics?

Free-body diagrams show the relative magnitude and direction of all forces acting upon an object.

What is the principle of superposition of forces?

When more than two charges are present, the resultant force on any one of them equals the vector sum of the forces exerted by the various individual charges.

How does one calculate the net electric force on a point charge?

By applying the principle of superposition of forces to sum the individual forces acting on the charge.

What role does the electric constant (k) play in Coulomb's Law?

It is a proportionality constant that quantifies the electrostatic force between charges.