Question

An electron has a charge of 1.602 X 10-19.coulomb. When two electrons are separated by 1.2 X 10-9m, what force will they exert on each other?(-19 & -9 are exponents)

6.2 X 10-6N
1.6 X 10-10N
3.4 X 10-9N
5.3 X 10-7 N​

Answer 1

The force they will exert on each other is 1.6*10⁻¹⁰ N

Step-by-step explanation:

The electromagnetic force is the interaction that occurs between bodies that have an electric charge. When the charges are at rest, the interaction between them is called the electrostatic force. Depending on the sign of the interacting charges, the electrostatic force can be attractive or repulsive. The electrostatic interaction between charges of the same sign is repulsive, while the interaction between charges of the opposite sign is attractive.

Coulomb's law is used to calculate the electric force acting between two charges at rest. This force depends on the distance "r" between the electrons and the charge of both.

Coulomb's law is represented by:

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

where:

• F = electric force of attraction or repulsion in Newtons (N). Like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
• k = is the Coulomb constant or electrical constant of proportionality.
• q = value of the electric charges measured in Coulomb (C).
• r = distance that separates the charges and that is measured in meters (m).

In this case:

• k= 9*10⁹
  `(N*m^(2) )/(C^(2) )`
• q1= 1.602*10⁻¹⁹ C
• q2= 1.602*10⁻¹⁹ C
• r= 1.2*10⁻⁹ m

Replacing:

`F=9*10^(9) (N*m^(2) )/(C^(2) )*(1.602*10^(-19) C*1.602*10^(-19) C)/((1.2*10^(-9) )^(2) )`

and solving you get:

F=1.6*10⁻¹⁰ N

The force they will exert on each other is 1.6*10⁻¹⁰ N