Electric Force in a One-Dimensional Situation

In this simulation, you can investigate 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.