Physics
Coulomb's Law
Quick fact
The force between two charged particles decreases by a factor of four if their distance doubles, illustrating the inverse square law.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered why some materials attract or repel each other when rubbed? It all starts with the invisible force between electric charges—Coulomb’s Law.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Coulomb's Law
Imagine two tiny balls with static electricity. If one is positive and the other negative, they pull together; if both are alike, they push apart. Coulomb’s Law explains how strongly this happens depending on how much charge each has and how far apart they are.
A deeper explanation
Coulomb's Law states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This principle underpins the behavior of charged particles in electric fields and is essential for understanding everything from lightning to electronic circuits.