Launch the simulation. Choose the macro scale experiment first.
Describe the system and the possible measurements that are available in this simulation.
Discuss with your team a set of procedures you will follow to determine the relationship between magnitude of charge and electrostatic force between two charged objects. Identify which variables will be independent, which will be dependent, and which will be controlled.
Discuss with your team a set of procedures you will follow to determine the relationship between the distance separating two charged particles and the electrostatic force between those particles. Identify which variables will be independent, which will be dependent, and which will be controlled.
Discuss with your team a set of procedures you will follow to determine the relationship between the sign of a charge and the magnitude of electrostatic force between two particles.
Create a data table you will use to record your data.
Coulomb's Law Analysis
Graph the data for each of your experiments.
Discuss the shape of your graphs. Propose an equation that mathematically describes the relationship between force, charge, and the distance separating two charged particles. Explain why your data suggest this equation.
Check your equation with Mr Kipp before proceeding further.
Your equation can only be balanced by the addition of a physical constant. Calculate the value of that constant.
Go back to the simulation and select atomic scale.
All charge values are given in terms of the charge on an electron. Using the findings from your analysis and measurements you can take in the simulation, experimentally determine the charge on a single electron.
Talk to the Text Coulomb's Law
What does it mean for a charge to be "quantized"? How does this lead to a definition of elementary charge?
Whenever two electric charges produce a force, how does the magnitude of the force on one charge compare to the magnitude of the force on the other charge? Is this consistent with Newton's Laws?
What is the difference between k and epsilon naught? Which one will we be concerned with in this class?
Describe how to generate a free body diagram when two or more charges interact.