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kQ/r

Definition

kQ/r represents Coulomb's Law equation, which calculates the magnitude of electrostatic force between two point charges. 'k' is Coulomb's constant (8.99 x 10^9 Nm²/C²), 'Q' represents the magnitudes of both charges involved, and 'r' is their separation distance.

Analogy

Think of kQ/r as a "charge attraction formula." Just like how you can calculate the strength of attraction between two people based on their distance and personal qualities, Coulomb's Law helps us determine the force between charges based on their magnitudes and separation.

Related terms

Electric Field Strength: The force experienced by a unit positive charge placed in an electric field.

Electric Potential Energy: The energy that a charged object possesses due to its position in an electric field.

Superposition Principle: The principle stating that the total electric field at any point is the vector sum of the individual electric fields produced by each charge.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.