A +2.0-n C point charge is 3.0 cm away from a-3.0-nC point charge. (a) What are the magnitude a

step 1 So we have two oppositely signed charges, three centimeters across. One is a negative three nano

A +2.0-n C point charge is 3.0 cm away from a-3.0-nC point...

A $+2.0-n C$ point charge is $3.0 \mathrm{~cm}$ away from $\mathrm{a}-3.0-\mathrm{nC}$ point charge. (a) What are the magnitude and direction of the electric force acting on the $+2.0-n$ C charge? (b) What are the magnitude and direction of the electric force acting on the $-3.0-n C$ charge?

Key Concepts

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism that quantifies the electric force between two point charges. It states that the magnitude of the force is directly proportional to the product of the absolute values of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is essential for calculating the force between any two charged objects in a vacuum.

Point Charges

Point charges are idealized charged particles whose dimensions are negligibly small compared to the distances separating them. This assumption allows the use of Coulomb's Law without having to consider the sizes or shapes of the charges, simplifying the analysis of electric forces and fields.

Electric Force

The electric force is the force exerted by electric charges on one another. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The direction of this force depends on the signs of the interacting charges—like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract.

Direction of Force Based on Charge Sign

The sign of the electric charges determines whether the force is attractive or repulsive. In systems with opposite charges, the force is attractive and the charges pull toward one another. In contrast, for like charges, the force is repulsive, pushing the charges away from each other. This concept is crucial in understanding the net forces in electric charge interactions.

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