Superposition Principle For Electrostatic Force
Superposition Principle For Electrostatic Force:
Key Points:
- The net force acting on a charge due to multiple charges is the vector sum of the forces acting on the charge due to each individual charge.
- The force acting on a charge due to another charge is given by Coulomb’s law:
$$F_i = k * \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}$$
where:
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k is the electrostatic constant (k ≈ 9 × 10^9 N m²/C²)
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q_1 and q_2 are the magnitudes of the charges
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r is the distance between the charges
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The net force acting on a charge due to multiple charges is:
$$F_{net} = \Sigma F_i$$
where F_i is the force acting on the charge due to the ith charge
Examples:
- Two positive charges exert a repulsive force on each other.
- A positive charge and a negative charge exert an attractive force on each other.
- The net force acting on a charge due to multiple charges can be zero.
Applications:
- The superposition principle is used to calculate the electric field and electric potential at a point in space.
- The superposition principle is used to design and analyze electrical circuits.
- The superposition principle is used to study the behavior of charged particles in matter.
