Coulomb's Law Graphical Analysis

Question

How would you make a linear plot out of coulomb's law such that F_e=(kq₁q₂)/d² is in the same form as y=mx+b?

Answer 1

Make 1/d² the independent variable.  Then you will have a linear expression in 1/d².

 

F_e = kq₁q₂(1/d²) = mx + b

 

m = kq₁q₂ = slope = constant as long as the 2 charges do not change

 

x = 1/d² = independent variable

 

b = 0

Answer 2

Coulomb's law is not the same as a straight line (linear) function.

 

Coulomb's law has three variables; the force is directly proportional to the product of two charges, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.