Electrostatics: Electric Charge and Coulomb's Law

Study Notes

Coulomb's Law describes the electric force between two point charges
The law states that the electric force between two point charges is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
The force is repulsive if the charges are the same sign and attractive if they are opposite signs
Mathematically, Coulomb's Law can be expressed as:

F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2

where F is the electric force, k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them

The electric field is a vector field that surrounds charged objects
It is defined as the electric force per unit charge at a given point in space
The electric field can be calculated using Coulomb's Law
The electric field is a conservative field, meaning that it can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar function

Electric potential, also known as voltage, is the potential energy per unit charge at a given point in space
It is measured in volts (V)
Electric potential is a scalar quantity
Electric potential can be calculated using the following formula:

V = k * q / r

where V is the electric potential, k is Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge

Electric potential difference, also known as voltage difference, is the difference in electric potential between two points
It is measured in volts (V)
Electric potential difference is the driving force behind electric current

Electric potential is a scalar quantity, while electric field is a vector quantity
Electric potential is related to the electric field by the following formula:

E = -∇V

where E is the electric field and V is the electric potential

Electric potential is a conservative field, meaning that it can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar function

Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that comes in two types: positive and negative.
Like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) repel each other, while opposite charges (positive-negative) attract each other.

Describes the electric force between two point charges as proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
The electric force is repulsive if the charges have the same sign and attractive if they have opposite signs.
Mathematically expressed as: F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where F is the electric force, k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them.

A vector field that surrounds charged objects, defined as the electric force per unit charge at a given point in space.
Can be calculated using Coulomb's Law.
Electric field is a conservative field, meaning it can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar function.

Also known as voltage, measured in volts (V), and represents the potential energy per unit charge at a given point in space.
Calculated using the formula: V = k * q / r, where V is the electric potential, k is Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge.
Electric potential is a scalar quantity.

Electric potential is a scalar quantity, while electric field is a vector quantity.
Electric potential is related to the electric field by the formula: E = -∇V, where E is the electric field and V is the electric potential.
Electric potential is a conservative field, meaning it can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar function.