The Point Charge Forces in One-Dimension model investigates the electric force that one charged particle exerts on another. The electric force is shown in three ways. First, particle 2 can be dragged left or right to sample the force at various locations - the force on each particle is shown with an arrow. Second, the numerical value of each force is shown in the table at the bottom. Third, you can check the box at the top of the menu to plot a graph of the electric force as a function of position. For the graph (and the numerical values), we define positive force as a force pointing to the right, and negative force as a force pointing to the left.
The Point Charge Forces in One-Dimension was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_bu_Point_Charge_Force_1D.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.
Please note that this resource requires
at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).
Point Charge Forces in 1D Model Source Code
The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Point Charge Forces in 1D model. Unzip this archive in your EJS workspace to compile and run this model using EJS. download 5kb .zip
Last Modified: June 11, 2014
previous versions
6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)
4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING
G. Forces of Nature
4G (9-12) #3. There are two kinds of charges?positive and negative. Like charges repel one another, opposite charges attract. In materials, there are almost exactly equal proportions of positive and negative charges, making the materials as a whole electrically neutral. Negative charges, being associated with electrons, are far more mobile in materials than positive charges are. A very small excess or deficit of negative charges in a material produces noticeable electric forces.
A. Duffy, Computer Program POINT CHARGE FORCES IN 1D MODEL (2010), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9977&DocID=1603).
Duffy, A. (2010). Point Charge Forces in 1D Model [Computer software]. Retrieved February 7, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9977&DocID=1603
%0 Computer Program %A Duffy, Andrew %D April 16, 2010 %T Point Charge Forces in 1D Model %8 April 16, 2010 %9 Java Archive File %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9977&DocID=1603
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