Electric charges

Coulomb's law

The law that describes the electric force between charged particles, stating that like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Electric force

The force exerted by charged particles on one another, which can be either attractive or repulsive depending on the charges involved.

Attractive force

A force that pulls charged particles towards each other when they have opposite signs (positive and negative).

Repulsive force

A force that pushes charged particles away from each other when they have the same signs (both positive or both negative).

Permittivity of free space (ε0)

A constant used in Coulomb's law, representing the ability of a vacuum to permit electric field lines, with a value of approximately 8.85 x 10^-12 F/m.

Elementary charge (e)

The fundamental charge of a proton, which is approximately 1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs. A proton has a charge of +e and an electron has a charge of -e.

Alpha particle

A helium nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons, with a charge of +2e.

Inverse square law

A physical law stating that the strength of a force (like electric or gravitational) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of that force.

Newton's third law

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, meaning forces between two objects are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Charge (q)

A property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field; can be positive or negative.