Electrostatic Force Between Proton and Electron in Hydrogen
The proton and electron in a hydrogen atom (separated by ~0.053 nm) attract with a force of about 8.2 × 10⁻⁸ N.
How to use this tool
- Enter charge q₁, charge q₂ and separation r in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your electrostatic force and the full breakdown beneath it.
At the Bohr radius of a hydrogen atom (5.3 × 10⁻¹¹ m), the electrostatic attraction between proton and electron is about 82 nN.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Coulomb's constant k?
- k = 1/(4πε₀) ≈ 8.9875×10⁹ N·m²/C², where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space. It appears in all electrostatic force calculations.
- What is a typical charge magnitude?
- 1 μC (1×10⁻⁶ C) is typical in electrostatics experiments. An electron carries 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C.