Coulomb's Law

Inverse-square law of electrostatic force between charges, the electric counterpart of Newtonian gravity.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Charles-Augustin de Coulomb established it in 1785 with a torsion balance, the same instrument family Cavendish used for gravity.
• The constant k equals 1/4πε₀, tying the law to the vacuum permittivity.
• Tests of the inverse-square exponent are among physics’ most precise — a deviation would imply a massive photon.

Specifications & Metrics

• SYMBOL: F = k·q₁q₂/r²

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