To simplify the calculation of a model with many interacting particles, after some threshold value r=R, we approximate F as zero.
a. Explain the physical reasoning behind this assumption.
b. What is the force equation?
c. Evaluate the force F using both Coulomb’s law and our approximation, assuming two protons with a charge magnitude of 1.6022×10−19coulombs (C), and the Coulomb constant ke=8.988×109Nm2/C2 are 1 m apart. Also, assume R<1m. How much inaccuracy does our approximation generate? Is our approximation reasonable?
d. Is there any finite value of R for which this system remains continuous at R?