Charge Inverse Square Law may not be always valid.

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Monitek - 15 Nov 2004 15:56 GMT

When one creates a positively charged body one also has to create a
correspondingly negatively charged body. When measuring the force of attraction
between the two bodies so created one finds that it varies as an inverse square
law, so far so good.

Can the same be said for two like charged bodies? That is, does the force of
repulsion between two like charges always follow the inverse square law?

Regards,
Monitek (Arden Barker)

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EjP - 16 Nov 2004 19:57 GMT

> When one creates a positively charged body one also has to create a
> correspondingly negatively charged body. When measuring the force of attraction
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Can the same be said for two like charged bodies? That is, does the force of
> repulsion between two like charges always follow the inverse square law?

Yes.

-E

> Regards,
> Monitek (Arden Barker)

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Monitek - 16 Nov 2004 22:43 GMT

>From: EjP nospam@hackers.are.bad
>Date: 16/11/2004 19:57 GMT Standard Time
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> Regards,
>> Monitek (Arden Barker)

Well I am not so sure. I figured that if I made two negative charges, say, I
would also have to make two associated positive charges and the force between
the two negative charges would depend upon the position of the associated
positive charges.

Regards,
Monitek (Arden Barker)

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Jon Bell - 17 Nov 2004 04:31 GMT

> [...] I figured that if I made two negative charges, say, I
>would also have to make two associated positive charges and the force between
>the two negative charges would depend upon the position of the associated
>positive charges.

The *net* electric force on either of the two new negative charges depends
on the positons of all the other charges in the universe, including the
two new positive charges, according to the law of superposition. The
electric force exerted *individually* on either of the two new negative
charges by the other new negative charge does not depend on the location
(or existence) of any other charges.

Signature

Jon Bell <jtbellm4h@presby.edu> Presbyterian College
Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA

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Monitek - 18 Nov 2004 21:53 GMT

>From: jtbellj3p@presby.edu (Jon Bell)
>Date: 17/11/2004 04:31 GMT Standard Time
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>charges by the other new negative charge does not depend on the location
>(or existence) of any other charges.

Did you mean to say:

>The electric force exerted *individually* on either of the two new negative
>charges by the other new positive charge does not depend on the location
>(or existence) of any other charges.

?

Regards,
Monitek

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Natural Science Forum / Physics / Particle Physics / November 2004

Charge Inverse Square Law may not be always valid.