How Do Like Charges Exert Force Without Using Energy?

The truth is that energy is a conserved quantity and can not be created or destroyed. In summary, energy is required for exerting a pull or push on anything, and the amount of energy exerted is proportional to the amount of force exerted and the time period. When we place 2 like charges near each other, the energy comes from the electric field and is known as "Electrostatic potential energy." This energy is stored when work is done to bring the charges into position. However, energy is a conserved quantity and cannot be created or destroyed.
  • #1
aditya ver.2.0
67
4
We all know that energy is required for exerting a pull or push on anything. The amount of energy exerted is proportional to the amount of force exerted and the time period. So if we place 2 like charges near each other, then what energy do they utilize to exert repulsion force on each other.
 
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  • #2
The energy comes from the electric field.

Note: no energy is required to get a force - consider the case of stationary charges, or a magnet stuck to a fridge.
What you are thinking of is the change of energy.
 
  • #3
Simon Bridge said:
The energy comes from the electric field.

Absolutely... and if you want to think of this in terms of energy, its called "Electrostatic potential energy"
Someone must have done work to bring those two charges in that position.. and the work did by that "someone" got stored up as the potential energy.
 
  • #4
aditya ver.2.0 said:
We all know that energy is required for exerting a pull or push on anything. The amount of energy exerted is proportional to the amount of force exerted and the time period.
Neither of those statements is true.
 
  • #5


I would like to clarify that the concept of energy is not directly related to the force exerted by like charges. Energy is a measure of the ability to do work, while force is a measure of the interaction between two objects. In the case of like charges, the force exerted is due to the repulsion between their electric fields.

When two like charges are placed near each other, they will experience a repulsive force due to the fact that like charges repel each other. This force is a result of the electric fields surrounding the charges. The electric fields of the two charges interact with each other, causing a repulsive force between them.

The amount of force exerted between the two like charges is determined by the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them, according to Coulomb's law. This force does not require any energy to be exerted, as it is a result of the inherent properties of the charges.

In other words, the energy utilized to exert the repulsion force between two like charges is not directly related to the force itself. Instead, it is determined by the initial potential energy of the charges, which is converted into kinetic energy as they repel each other. This energy is conserved and does not change during the interaction between the charges.

In conclusion, the force exerted by like charges is not dependent on the energy utilized. It is a result of the interaction between their electric fields and is determined by the properties of the charges themselves.
 

Related to How Do Like Charges Exert Force Without Using Energy?

What is the definition of "force exerted by like charges"?

Force exerted by like charges refers to the repulsive force between two or more charged particles that have the same polarity.

How is the force exerted by like charges calculated?

The force exerted by like charges can be calculated using Coulomb's law, which states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

What happens when two like charges are brought closer together?

When two like charges are brought closer together, the force between them increases as the distance decreases. This is because the electric field strength between the two charges becomes stronger.

Can the force exerted by like charges be attractive?

No, the force exerted by like charges is always repulsive. This is because like charges have the same polarity and therefore repel each other.

How does the force exerted by like charges affect the behavior of charged particles?

The force exerted by like charges plays a crucial role in determining the behavior of charged particles. It causes them to repel each other, leading to the spread of charges and the formation of electric fields.

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