M2 Laboratory Report 1
Leanna Brereton
Date Performed: 05-22-2026
,Purpose
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate Coulomb’s Law using the PhET
simulation and determine how electric force is affected by the magnitude of charge and the
distance between charged particles. The experiment also examined how the sign of the
charges determines whether the force is attractive or repulsive.
Introduction
Electric force is one of the four fundamental forces in nature and plays a major role in the
interactions between charged particles. Charged objects exert forces on one another that
can either attract or repel depending on the sign of the charges involved. Opposite charges
attract, while like charges repel. Coulomb’s Law describes the relationship between
electric force, charge magnitude, and distance between two charged particles.
The equation for Coulomb’s Law is:
F = k|q1q2| / r^2
F represents electric force, k represents Coulomb’s constant, q1 and q2 represent electric
charges, and r represents the distance between charges. According to Coulomb’s Law,
electric force increases as the magnitude of the charges increases and decreases as the
distance between the charges increases. The force is inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between the charges.
Procedure
The PhET Interactive Simulation for Coulomb’s Law was opened, and the Macro Scale tab
was selected. The ruler tool was dragged into position between the two charges to
accurately measure the distance between them. Scientific notation was unchecked so that
force values could be read directly from the screen. Three variables were identified in the
simulation: charge 1, charge 2, and distance between the charges. Data collection was
completed using three separate tables. For Table 1, the value of Charge 1 was changed
while Charge 2 and distance remained constant. For Table 2, the value of Charge 2 was
changed while Charge 1 and distance remained constant. For Table 3, the distance
between the charges was changed while both charge values remained constant. The force
values and arrow directions were recorded for each trial.
,A theoretical force calculation was completed using the second row of data from Table 2
and Coulomb’s Law. Percent error was then calculated using the experimental and
theoretical force values.
Data/Data Evaluation
M2 Laboratory Report 1 Worksheet
PhET Simulation: Coulomb’s Law
Instructions
• Before you start to work on this worksheet, review the M2.0 Laboratory Report 1
Instructions
• Submit your completed work to the M2.0 Laboratory Report 1 dropbox. See the
Schedule and Course Rubrics in the Syllabus Module for due dates and grading
information.
Objectives:
1. Investigate the concept for Electric force and Coulomb’s law.
2. Determine how the magnitude and sign of charge affect the Electric force.
3. Determine how the distance between the charges affects the Electric force.
Pre-Lab Activities:
1. Open the simulation using the link to PhET Interactive Simulations at the
University of Colorado Boulder:
PhET Interactive Simulations
2. Explore the four options available in the simulator
3. In this laboratory investigation you will be using the Macro Scale tab.
, PART 1: DATA COLLECTION
Once you are in the simulation, which looks like the image below, follow the instructions as you go
through each question in order to work your way through the simulation and answer the questions.
1. Identify the three variables in the simulation. There are 3 things in the simulation that can be
changed directly or indirectly. Force, charge, distance
2. Explain what you can do in the simulator to
• to increase force: drag q1 to the right and q2 to the left
• to decrease force: drag q1 to the left and q2 to the right
3. Set up the charge values and the distance between them as shown in the tables
below.
Leanna Brereton
Date Performed: 05-22-2026
,Purpose
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate Coulomb’s Law using the PhET
simulation and determine how electric force is affected by the magnitude of charge and the
distance between charged particles. The experiment also examined how the sign of the
charges determines whether the force is attractive or repulsive.
Introduction
Electric force is one of the four fundamental forces in nature and plays a major role in the
interactions between charged particles. Charged objects exert forces on one another that
can either attract or repel depending on the sign of the charges involved. Opposite charges
attract, while like charges repel. Coulomb’s Law describes the relationship between
electric force, charge magnitude, and distance between two charged particles.
The equation for Coulomb’s Law is:
F = k|q1q2| / r^2
F represents electric force, k represents Coulomb’s constant, q1 and q2 represent electric
charges, and r represents the distance between charges. According to Coulomb’s Law,
electric force increases as the magnitude of the charges increases and decreases as the
distance between the charges increases. The force is inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between the charges.
Procedure
The PhET Interactive Simulation for Coulomb’s Law was opened, and the Macro Scale tab
was selected. The ruler tool was dragged into position between the two charges to
accurately measure the distance between them. Scientific notation was unchecked so that
force values could be read directly from the screen. Three variables were identified in the
simulation: charge 1, charge 2, and distance between the charges. Data collection was
completed using three separate tables. For Table 1, the value of Charge 1 was changed
while Charge 2 and distance remained constant. For Table 2, the value of Charge 2 was
changed while Charge 1 and distance remained constant. For Table 3, the distance
between the charges was changed while both charge values remained constant. The force
values and arrow directions were recorded for each trial.
,A theoretical force calculation was completed using the second row of data from Table 2
and Coulomb’s Law. Percent error was then calculated using the experimental and
theoretical force values.
Data/Data Evaluation
M2 Laboratory Report 1 Worksheet
PhET Simulation: Coulomb’s Law
Instructions
• Before you start to work on this worksheet, review the M2.0 Laboratory Report 1
Instructions
• Submit your completed work to the M2.0 Laboratory Report 1 dropbox. See the
Schedule and Course Rubrics in the Syllabus Module for due dates and grading
information.
Objectives:
1. Investigate the concept for Electric force and Coulomb’s law.
2. Determine how the magnitude and sign of charge affect the Electric force.
3. Determine how the distance between the charges affects the Electric force.
Pre-Lab Activities:
1. Open the simulation using the link to PhET Interactive Simulations at the
University of Colorado Boulder:
PhET Interactive Simulations
2. Explore the four options available in the simulator
3. In this laboratory investigation you will be using the Macro Scale tab.
, PART 1: DATA COLLECTION
Once you are in the simulation, which looks like the image below, follow the instructions as you go
through each question in order to work your way through the simulation and answer the questions.
1. Identify the three variables in the simulation. There are 3 things in the simulation that can be
changed directly or indirectly. Force, charge, distance
2. Explain what you can do in the simulator to
• to increase force: drag q1 to the right and q2 to the left
• to decrease force: drag q1 to the left and q2 to the right
3. Set up the charge values and the distance between them as shown in the tables
below.
