Coulomb's Law
Recommended for grades 11–16.
Introduction
You most certainly have experienced the interaction between two objects that have acquired an electric charge, whether it was the static cling between clothes or the attraction between your hair and a comb on a dry day. In this experiment, you will make the measurements that will allow you to determine a quantitative relationship between the electrostatic force and the distance between charged objects.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Make qualitative observations about the electrical interaction between various charged objects.
- Use an examination of forces in static equilibrium to determine the magnitude of the electrical force between charged objects.
- Use video analysis techniques to determine the relationship between the magnitude of the electrical force and the distance between two charged objects.
Software for Experiment
This experiment uses Logger Pro software.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
No standards correlations for this experiment.
Experiment 7 from Advanced Physics with Vernier - Beyond Mechanics Lab Book
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.