Question

A charge of `-5 C` is at `(1, 3 )` and a charge of `1 C` is at `(8,4 )`. If both coordinates are in meters, what is the force between the charges?

Answer 1

`3.6*10^9 N` or `3.6 GN`

Explanation:

You first want to use the coordinates to calculate a distance between the charges.
`d=sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2)`
The distance between the two charges is `5sqrt2` meters
This will be your radius when calculating for the electric force. The formula for the electric force is
`Fe^(-)=(Kq_1q_2)/r^2`
where `K=9*10^9` and the units for q is in coulombs and the r is in meters.
`Fe^(-)=`(`9*10^9`)(`-5`)(`4)`/`(5sqrt2)^2`