Electrostatic force

Electrostatic forces between particles are attracting or repulsive forces induced by their electric charges. The Coulomb force, also known as the Coulomb interaction, was named after French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, who first characterised it in 1785.  Electrostatic phenomena can range from the simple attraction of plastic wrap to one’s palm after it has been taken from a package to the seemingly spontaneous explosion of grain silos, the damage of electronic components during production, and the operation of photocopiers and laser printers. The buildup of charge on the surface of objects caused by contact with other surfaces is known as electrostatics. Although charge exchange occurs whenever two surfaces come into contact and separate, its effects are usually only noticeable when one of the surfaces has a significant impedance to electrical flow, because of the charges that transfer are trapped there for long enough to have an effect. These charges stick on the object until they flow off to the ground or are swiftly neutralised by a discharge. The neutralisation of charge built up in the body through contact with insulated surfaces causes the common phenomena of a static “shock.”

Protons don’t stick to electrons:-

While electrostatic forces attract protons and electrons, protons do not leave the nucleus to join with electrons because the strong nuclear force binds them to each other and neutrons. The strong nuclear force is substantially stronger than the electromagnetic force, although it has a much-limited range of action. Protons and electrons in an atom are in some ways touching since electrons have both particle and wave qualities. Because an electron’s wavelength is equivalent to that of an atom, electrons cannot approach any closer than they are now. The electrostatic force acts over a distance of about one-tenth of an atomic nucleus’ diameter, or 10-16 m. Similar charges repel each other, while dissimilar charges attract each other. Two positively charged protons, like two cations, two negatively charged electrons, or two anions, repel each other. Cation and anions, like protons and electrons, are attracted to one other.

Deduce Electrostatic force using Coulomb’s Law:-

According to Coulomb’s law,

‘The electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of their distance.’

Assume that q1 and q2 are the two electric charges, and r is the distance between the centres of the two charges. So that, Coulomb’s force, 

F=Kq1q2/r2

K=1/4πξo

Where ξo is the permittivity of free space

The value of ξo=8.85410-12C2N-1m-2

It’s vital to remember that the force between two charges is proportional to their size and inversely proportional to the square of their distance.

Electrostatics examples:-

Electrostatic force can be seen in a variety of ways. The following are a handful of them:-

1. The attraction of the plastic wrap to one’s hand and the subsequent removal of the hand from the wrap.
2. The rubbing of paper on hair attracts it to a charged scale.
3. The ostensibly accidental explosion of grain silos.
4. Use of a photocopier and a laser printer.

Examples of Electrostatic force in daily life:-

1. Static electricity is created when nylon clothing is rubbed against another fabric or against the wearer’s skin. The chattering sound produced while removing such clothing is due to the electrostatic force formed between the skin and the clothing particles. A fabric softener must be added to a nylon cloth while it is being washed to prevent static from developing.
2. When a rod is brushed with a cloth, it develops an electrical charge. The nature of the rod’s substance determines the polarity of the charge. A glass rod creates a positive charge when rubbed with a piece of fabric, but a plastic rod develops a negative charge. A force of attraction or repulsion is noticed when these charged rods are brought closer to a freely hanging pom-pom ball. As a result, the electrostatic force aids in the conclusion of the charge on the ball.
3. The television screen polarises the dust particles floating freely in the air. The charged dust particles stick to the television screen as a result of this. This is why, minutes after removing the previous layer of dust, a new coating of dust appears on the screen. The electrostatic interaction is the name for the interaction between the dust particles and the screen. When a person moves his or her palm simply a few centimetres above the screen, the electrostatic force is immediately felt.
4. The electrostatic force is best demonstrated during the winter months when the air is dry and the humidity is low. When a person moves, electrostatic force develops accidentally between the cloth layer and the skin. A cracking sound might be heard while removing woollen clothing. This is because an exchange of charges occurs when the two charged bodies are removed from one other. A person’s dry skin must be moisturised to avoid the buildup of electrostatic charges between the garments and the skin.
5. One of the best examples of electrostatic force in real life is a photocopier or copying machine. On a glass screen, the original paper is placed. The image of this original piece of paper is transferred to a positively charged drum. The ink powder or toner used in most cases has a negative polarity. The drum makes contact with the paper on which the impression is to be made. The ink is subsequently transferred to the paper, resulting in a successful photocopy of the original document.
6. The balloon party trick involves rubbing the balloon against a person’s hair to deposit charges on the outside surface. The balloon easily adheres to any surface with the opposite charge or no charge after developing a significant quantity of charge on its surface. Electrostatic interaction is the only way for the two bodies to interact.
7. We accidentally put a substantial quantity of charge on the teeth of the comb when we finish combing our hair. When this charged comb comes into contact with lighter particles, such as scraps of paper, the paper particles are drawn to the comb. The electrostatic force between the comb and the paper particles is well demonstrated in this procedure.
8. When a person approaches a metallic doorknob at random, he or she is likely to receive a brief electric shock. The electrostatic force between the doorknob and the person’s hand is the reason behind this. Because it is constructed of metal, the doorknob can transfer electrons to any object that comes into touch with it. The other body is charged as a result of the electron transfer, and electrostatic interaction between the doorknob and the skin develops. Touching a wooden surface before touching the metallic door knob or handle is an efficient way to avoid it.

Conclusion:-

The Coulomb force or Coulomb interaction is another name for the electrostatic force.  It’s the force that attracts or repels two electrically charged things. Charges that are similar repel each other, while charges that are dissimilar attract each other. The strength of the force between two charges is calculated using Coulomb’s law. Coulomb’s law is crucial in chemistry and physics because it describes the force between atoms, ions, molecules, and portions of molecules. The force of attraction or repulsion between charged particles or ions reduces as their distance grows, making the creation of an ionic bond less desirable. The energy of charged particles increases as they got closer to each other, making ionic bonding more advantageous.