General

Physics 2
Second Semester – Quarter 1, Lesson 1
Electricity and Magnetism

Name: ________________________________________

The mathematics and physics concepts are not two completely separate
entities. The equations speak the concepts. Let the equations guide your
reasoning.

— Chris McMullen, Ph.D.

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LESSON 1:
COULOMB’S LAW
I. Relevant Terminologies
Electric charge – a fundamental property of a particle that causes the particle to
experience a force in the presence of an electric field. (An electrically neutral particle
has no charge and thus experiences no force in the presence of an electric field.)
Electric force – the push or pull that one charged particle exerts on another.
Oppositely charged particles attract, whereas like charges (both positive or both
negative) repel.
Coulomb’s constant – the constant of proportionality in Coulomb’s law.

II. Coulomb’s Law

According to Coulomb’s law, any two objects with charge attract or repel one
another with an electrical force that is directly proportional to each charge and
inversely proportional to the square of the separation between the two charges:

|𝑞1||𝑞2|
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘
𝑟2

The absolute values around each charge indicate that the magnitude of the force
is positive.
Note the subscript on 𝐹𝑒 : It’s 𝐹 sub 𝑒 (not 𝐹 times 𝑒). The subscript serves to
distinguish electric force (𝐹𝑒 ) from other kinds of forces, such as gravitational force (𝐹𝑔 ).
The proportionality constant in Coulomb’s law is called Coulomb’s constant (𝑘):
2 2
𝑁𝑚 𝑁𝑚
𝑘 = 8.9 𝑥 109 2 ≈ 9.0 𝑥 10 109 2
𝐶 𝐶
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 𝑁𝑚2
In this lesson, we will round Coulomb’s constant to 9.0 𝑥 109 such that the
𝐶2
problems may be solved without using a calculator.

III. Symbols and S.I. Units

Symbol Name S.I. Units
Fe Electric Force N
q Charge C
r Separation m
𝑁. 𝑚2 𝑘𝑔. 𝑚3
k Coulomb’s Constant 𝑜𝑟 2 2
𝐶2 𝐶 .𝑠

IV. Notes Regarding Units

The SI units of Coulomb’s constant (𝑘) follow by solving for 𝑘 in Coulomb’s law:
𝐹𝑒 𝑟 2
𝑘=
𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑁.𝑚2 𝐹𝑒 𝑟 2
The SI units of 𝑘 equal because these are the SI units of . This follows
𝐶2 𝑞1 𝑞2
since the SI unit of electric force (𝐹𝑒 ) is the Newton (N), the SI unit of charge (𝑞) is the
Coulomb (C), and the SI unit of separation (𝑟) is the meter (m). Recall from first-
semester physics that a Newton is equivalent to:
𝑘𝑔. 𝑚3
1𝑁 = 1
𝑠2
𝑁.𝑚2 𝑘𝑔.𝑚3
Plugging this into , the SI units of 𝑘 can alternatively be expressed as .
𝐶2 𝐶 2 𝑠2

V. Essential Concepts
The matter around us is composed of different types of atoms. Each atom
consists of protons and neutrons in its nucleus, surrounded by electrons.
• Protons have positive electric charge.
• Neutrons are electrically neutral.
• Electrons have negative electric charge.

Whether two charges attract or repel depends on their relative signs:

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 • Opposite charges attract.
For example, electrons are attracted to protons.
• Like charges repel. For example, two electrons repel. Similarly, two
protons repel.

The charge of an object depends on how many protons and electrons it has:
• If the object has more protons than electrons (meaning that the object has
lost electrons), the object has positive charge.
• If the object has more electrons than protons (meaning that the object has
gained electrons), the object has negative charge.
• If the object has the same number of protons as electrons, the object is
electrically neutral. Its net charge is zero.

(Atoms tend to gain or lose valence electrons from their outer shells. It’s not easy
to gain or lose protons since they are tightly bound inside the nucleus of the atom. One
way for objects to become electrically charged is through rubbing, such as rubbing
glass with fur.) Some materials tend to be good conductors of electricity; others are
good insulators.
• Charges flow readily through a conductor.
Most metals are good conductors.
• Charges tend not to flow through an insulator.
Glass and wood are good insulators.

When two charged objects touch (or are connected by a conductor), charge can
be transferred from one object to the other.

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 VI. Metric Prefixes
Since a Coulomb (C) is a very large amount of charge, we often use the following
metric prefixes when working with electric charge.

Prefix Name Power of 10

𝑚 Milli 10−3
µ Micro 10−6
𝑛 Nano 10−9
𝑝 Pico 1012
Note: The symbol μ is the lowercase Greek letter mu. When it is used as a metric
prefix, it is called micro. For example, 32 μC is called 32 microCoulombs.

VII. Algebra with Powers

It may be helpful to recall the following rules of algebra relating to powers:
+𝑏 1
1. 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎 4. 𝑥 −𝑎 = 𝑥 𝑎
𝑥𝑎
2. 𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎 −𝑏 5. 𝑥 0 = 1
3. 𝑎−𝑎 = 𝑥 𝑎
1 6. (𝑎𝑥)𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 𝑏

VIII. Coulomb’s Law Strategy

How you solve a problem involving Coulomb’s depends on which kind of problem
it is:
• In this lesson, we will focus on the simplest problems, which involve two
charged objects attracting or repelling one another. For simple problems like
these, plug the known values into the following equation and solve for the
unknown quantity.
|𝑞1||𝑞2|
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘
𝑟2

Look at the units and wording to determine which symbols you know.
• A value in Coulombs (C) is electric charge, 𝑞.
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 • A value in meters (m) is likely related to the separation, r.
• A value in N is a force, such as electric force, 𝐹𝑒 .

• You should know Coulomb’s constant:

2
𝑁𝑚
𝑘 = 9.0 𝑥 109 2
𝐶
If two charged objects touch or are connected by a conductor, in a fraction
of a second the excess charge will redistribute and the system will attain static
equilibrium. The two charges will then be equal: The new charge, 𝑞, will equal
𝑞1 +𝑞2 𝑞2
𝑞= . Coulomb’s law then reduces to 𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘 𝑟 2 .
2

• If a problem gives you three or more charges, apply the technique of vector
addition.
• If a problem involves other forces, like tension in a cord, apply Newton’s second
law.
• If a problem involves an electric field, 𝐸, (not to be confused with electric force,
𝐹𝑒 , or electric charge, 𝑞).

IX. Inverse-square Laws

Coulomb’s law and Newton’s law of gravity are examples of inverse-square laws:
1
Each of these laws features a factor of 𝑟 2 .
|𝑞 1 ||𝑞 2 | 𝑚1 𝑚2
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘 , 𝐹𝑔 =
𝑟2 𝑟2

Coulomb’s law has a similar structure to Newton’s law of gravity: Both force laws
1
involve a proportionality constant, a product of sources (|𝑞1 ||𝑞 2 | or 𝑚1 𝑚2 ), and 𝑟 2 .

X. Elementary Charges
Protons have a charge equal to 1.60 × 10−19 𝐶 (to three significant figures). We
call this elementary charge and give it the symbol 𝑒. Electrons have the same charge,
except for being negative. Thus, protons have charge +𝑒, while electrons have charge
−𝑒. When a macroscopic object is charged, its charge will be a multiple of 𝑒𝑒, since all
objects are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. If you need to use the charge
of a proton or electron to solve a problem, use the value of 𝑒 below.

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 𝑒 = 1.60 𝑥 10−19 𝐶
XI. Examples
A. A small strand of monkey fur has a net charge of 4.0 μC while a small
piece of glass has a net charge of −5.0 μC. The strand of fur is 3.0 m
from the piece of glass. What is the electric force between the monkey
fur and the piece of glass?

Make a list of the known quantities:

• The strand of fur has a charge of 𝑞1 = 4.0 µ𝐶
• The piece of glass has a charge of 𝑞2 = −5.0 µ𝐶
• The separation between them is 𝑟 = 3.0 𝑚
𝑁𝑚2
• Coulomb’s constant is 𝑘 = 9.0 𝑥 109 𝐶2

Convert the charges from microCoulombs (µC) to Coulombs (C). Recall that the
metric prefix micro (µ) stands for one millionth: µ = 10−6 .

𝑞1 = 4.0µ𝐶 = 4.0 𝑥 10−6 𝐶

𝑞 2 = −5.0 µ𝐶 = −5.0 𝑥 10−6 𝐶

Plug these values into Coulomb’s law. It is convenient to suppress units until the
end in order to avoid clutter. Note that the absolute value of -5 is +5.
|𝑞1 ||𝑞2 | 9
|4𝑥10−6 ||−5𝑥10−6 | 9
(4𝑥10−6 )(5𝑥10−6 )
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘 = (9𝑥10 ) = (9𝑥10 )
𝑟2 (3)2 (3)2

If not using a calculator, it’s convenient to separate the powers:

(9)(4)(5)
𝐹𝑒 = 2 𝑥 109 10−6 10−6 = 20𝑥10−3 = 0.020 𝑁
(3)

Note that 109 10−6 10−6 = 109−6−6 = 109−12 = 10−3 according to the rule 𝑥 𝑚 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 .
The answer is (𝐹𝑒 = 0.020 𝑁 which could also expressed as 20𝑥10−3 𝑁, 2.0𝑥10−2 𝑁, or
20𝑚𝑁(meaning milliNewtons, where the prefix milli 𝑚, stands for 10−3 )

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 B. A metal banana-shaped earring has a net charge of −3.0 μC while a metal
monkey-shaped earring has a net charge of 7.0 μC. The two earrings are
brought together, touching one another for a few seconds, after which
the earrings are placed 6.0 m apart. What is the electric force between
the earrings when they are placed 6.0 m apart?

The “trick” to this problem is to realize that charge is transferred from one object
to the other when they touch. The excess charge splits evenly between the two
earrings. The excess charge (or the net charge) equals 𝑞𝑛𝑒𝑡 = −3.0 µ𝐶 + 7.0 µ𝐶 =
𝑞 +𝑞
4.0 µ𝐶. Half of this charge will reside on each earring after contact is made:𝑞 = 1 2 2 =
4.0 µ𝐶
2
= 2.0 µ𝐶. You could obtain the same answer via the following formula:
𝑞1 + 𝑞2 −3.0 µ𝐶 + 7.0 µ𝐶 4.0 µ𝐶
𝑞= = = = 2.0 µ𝐶
2 2 2

Convert the charge from micorCoulombs (µC) to Coulombs (C). Recall that the metric
prefix micro (µ) stands for one millionth: 10−6

𝑞 = 2.0 µ𝐶 = 2.0𝑥10−6 𝐶

Set the two charges equal to one another in Coulomb’s law.

𝑞2 9
(2𝑥106 )2 9
(9)2 (10−6 )2 9
(2)2 (10−12 )
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘 2 (9𝑥10 ) = (9𝑥10 ) = (9𝑥10 )
𝑟 (6)2 (6)2 (6)2

• Note that (2𝑥10−6 )2 = (2)2 (10−6 )2 according to the rule (𝑥𝑦)2 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 and note
that (10−6 )2 = 10−12 according to the rule (𝑥 𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚𝑛 . If not using a calculator,
it’s convenient to separate the powers:

(9)(2)2
𝐹𝑒 = 2 𝑥109 10−12 = 1.0𝑥10−3 𝑁
(6)
• Note that 10 10
9 −12
= 10 9−12
= 10−3 according to the rule 𝑥 𝑚 𝑥 −𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚−𝑛 . The
answer is 𝐹𝑒 = 0.0010 𝑁, which could also be expressed as 1.0𝑥10−3 𝑁 or 1.0 𝑚𝑁
(meaning milliNewtons, where the prefix milli 𝑚, stands for 10−3 )

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Activity:
Can you keep it up? Try this problems.
Direction: Copy the situation and find the value/s being ask in every
scenario. Put it a clean sheet of paper and pass it on the next scheduled
returning of modules/activities.

1. A coin with a monkey’s face has a net charge of −8.0µ𝐶 while a

coin with a monkey’s tail has a net charge of −3.0 µ𝐶. The coins
are separated by 2.0 𝑚. What is the electric force between the two
coins? Is the force attractive or repulsive?

2. A small glass rod an small strand of monkey fur are each

electrically neutral initially. When a monkey rubs the glass rod with
the monkey fur 20 𝑐𝑚 from the glass rod. What is the electric force
between the fur and the rod? Is the force attractive or repulsive?

3. A metal banana-shaped earing has a net charge of −2.0 µ𝐶 while a

metal apple-shaped earring has a net charge of 8.0 µ𝐶. The
earrings are 3.0 𝑚 apart.

(A) What is the electric force between the two earrings? Is

it attractive or repulsive?
(B) The two earrings are brought together, touching one
another for a few seconds, after which the earrings are
once again placed 3.0 𝑚 apart. What is the electric
force between the two earrings now? Is it attractive or
repulsive?

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