Explore the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges
Drag two charges along a ruler, change their size and sign, and see the electric force between them. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges?
Drag two charges along a ruler, change their size and sign, and see the electric force between them. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Coulomb's law explains chemical bonds, lightning, static shocks and how touch screens sense your finger.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
F = k q₁ q₂ / r².
Like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
Doubling the distance makes the force four times smaller.
Make the charges opposite and watch the arrows.
Double the distance.
Set one charge to 0.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Physics learners
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Double the distance. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
What is Coulomb's law?
The electric force between two point charges is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
Are the two forces equal?
Yes. Each charge pulls or pushes the other with the same size of force in opposite directions.
Is the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges free to use?
Yes. The Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Physics group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 13 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges?
1. In the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges, use the controls to change Scale, Charge 1, Charge 2, Separation, Force arrows, and more. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges, pick an option such as Macro (µC, cm), Atomic (e, nm), Log scale, Linear to switch modes or load an example. 3. In the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges, press "Flip both signs", "Flip charge 2", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening. 4. Start with this experiment: Make the charges opposite and watch the arrows. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges responds in real time. 5. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: F = k q₁ q₂ / r².
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Try the Coulomb's Law: Force Between Charges now
Drag two charges along a ruler, change their size and sign, and see the electric force. Free to use.
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