A K^+ ion and a Cl^- ion are directly across from each other...

$\mathrm{A} \mathrm{K}^{+}$ ion and $\mathrm{a} \mathrm{Cl}^{-}$ ion are directly across from each other on opposite sides of a cell membrane $9.0 \mathrm{nm}$ thick. What is the electric force on the $\mathrm{K}^{+}$ ion due to the $\mathrm{Cl}^{-}$ ion? Ignore the presence of other charges.

Key Concepts

Electric Charge

Electric charge is a basic property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. Charges are quantified in coulombs, and they can be either positive or negative. The magnitude and sign of the charge determine the nature of the force between charged particles, with like charges repelling and opposite charges attracting each other.

Inverse Square Law

The inverse square law describes how the strength of an effect such as the electric force decreases with the square of the distance from the source. In the context of Coulomb's law, this means that as the distance between two charges increases, the force exerted between them drops off rapidly, giving rise to a non-linear relationship between distance and force intensity.

Permittivity of Free Space

The permittivity of free space, often denoted as ??, is a constant that characterizes the ability of a vacuum to support electric field lines. This constant appears in Coulomb's law and is essential for determining the magnitude of the electric force between charges in a vacuum or similar medium. It helps bridge the relationship between physical constants and observable electromagnetic interactions.

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's law is the fundamental principle used to calculate the force between two point charges. It states that the electric force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is central to understanding interactions in electrostatics and is used to compute forces in a variety of physical and biological systems.

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