Question

Compare and contrast the Coulomb force field and the electric field. To do this, make a list of five properties for the Coulomb force field analogous to the five properties listed for electric field lines. Compare each item in your list of Coulomb force field properties with those of the electric field—are they the same or different?

Answer 1

The Coulomb force field and the electric field both originate from charges, exert forces that follow an inverse-square law, and utilize vector addition for multiple charges. However, they differ in their representation, with Coulomb's force focusing on the force between charges, and electric field lines providing a pattern in space that is unique at every point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparing Coulomb Force Field and Electric Field

When comparing and contrasting the Coulomb force field and the electric field, here are five properties to consider, with a comparison between them:

1. Origin: Both fields originate from charges. However, the Coulomb force field directly represents the force acting between point charges, while the electric field represents the force that a charge would experience per unit charge.
2. Directionality: The direction of the Coulomb force is along the line joining two charges and depends on whether they are like or opposite. In contrast, the direction of the electric field is defined as the direction a positive test charge would move and is radially outward for positive charges and inward for negative charges.
3. Strength: The strength of a Coulomb force field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between two charges (F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2). The electric field strength also inversely depends on the square of the distance from the point charge (E = k * q / r^2).
4. Superposition: Coulomb force fields can add up vectorially when there are multiple charges, similar to how electric field lines can add up due to multiple charges.
5. Crossing of Lines: Coulomb force lines do not exist in a literal sense, as they represent the force between pairs of charges, not a field pattern. Electric field lines, which represent patterns in space, do not cross each other because the field at a point is unique.

In summary, while both concepts arise from interactions between charges and share similarities in their properties, they also have distinct differences. The electric field concept helps in visualizing the influence a charge extends into the space around it, while the Coulomb force field directly describes the force two charges exert on each other.