Newton versus Coulomb
A hydrogen atom consists of an electron orbiting around a proton. Compare the gravitational and the electric force between these two particles. Which force is stronger and by which magnitude?
Solution For solving this question, we will use the formula of Coulomb's law
$$F_C = \frac{e^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 r^2}$$
and Newton's law of gravitation:
$$F_G = G\frac{m_p m_e}{r^2}$$
When dividing $F_C$ by $F_G$, the distance $r$ cancels out and only the consts remain:
$$\frac{F_C}{F_G} = \frac{e^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0Gm_pm_e}\approx 2.1\cdot 10^{39}$$
This result means that the electrical force between a proton and an electron is almost 40 orders of magnitude higher than the gravitation force between them.
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Last modified: 2022-10-01 21:00:46 by mustafa