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Question

Two electrons in an atom are separated by 1.5 x 10 ^ (-10) m, the typical size of an atom. What is the electrical force between them?

Answer 1

Hi - the formula for electrical force is:

F = [(k) (q1) (q2)] / r²

Where q1 and q2 are the charges of the two objects,

r is the distance between,

and k is Coulomb's Force Constant (about 9 x 10^9).

You also need to know that the charge of a single electron is -1.6 x 10^ -19 C.

Now we plug in the values:

F = [(k) (q1) (q2)] / r²

= [(9 x 10^9) (-1.6 x 10^ -19) (-1.6 x 10^ -19)] / (1.5 x 10 ^ -10)²

= [(9 x 10^9) (2.56 x 10^ -38)] / (1.5 x 10 ^ -10)²

= (2.304 x 10^-28) / (2.25 x 10^-20)

= 1.024 x 10^ -8 N (Newtons is the SI unit for Electric Force).

Hope this helps!