Poetry of Physics and the Physics of Poetry

98 The Poetry of Physics and The Physics of Poetry

pleasure such as the light bulb, the neon sign, the radio, the television,
the computer and the laser, not to mention the electric streetcar, the
electric stove, the electric dishwasher, the electric iron, the electric
vacuum cleaner, the electric can opener, etc. etc. etc.
Let us begin our study of the electromagnetic interaction by turning
our attention to the electric force, which, in some ways, is like the
gravitational force. The strength of the electric force, like the
gravitational force, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between the two interacting bodies. The magnitude of the strength is
proportional to the product of the two charges. The force is represented
by the equation F = kq 1 q 2 /R^2. In addition to the inverse square law
the force in both cases acts along the line joining the two bodies and is
equal and opposite for the two bodies as is illustrated in Fig. 11.1.

94 The Poetry of Physics and The Physics of Poetry

the computer and the laser, not to mention the electric streetcar, the

electric stove, the electric dishwasher, the electric iron, the electric

vacuum cleaner, the electric can opener, etc. etc. etc.

Let us begin our study of the electromagnetic interaction by turning

our attention to the electric force, which, in some ways, is like the

gravitational force. The strength of the electric force, like the

gravitational force, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance

between the two interacting bodies. The magnitude of the strength is

proportional to the product of the two charges. The force is represented

by the equation F = kq 1 q 2 /R^2. In addition to the inverse square law the

force in both cases acts along the line joining the two bodies and is equal

and opposite for the two bodies as is illustrated in Fig 10.1.

The electric force differs from the gravitational force, however, in two

vital ways. First of all, the gravitational force is o nly attractive whereas

the electric force can be both attractive and repulsive depending on the

signs of the charges involved. A charged particle is either positive like a

proton or negative like an electron. The proton and electron along with

the neutron are the basic elementary particles that make up the atom. The

proton and electron have equal and opposite charges +e and –e; and the

neutron is electrically neutral. All of the charges that are found in nature

aside from those of exotic elementary particles created in physics labs

are due to electrons and protons. Charges of the same sign repel each

other whereas charges with opposite signs attract each other. The other

difference in the two forces is the fact that the strength of the electric

force is considerably greater than that of the gravitational force. In fact,

the electric attraction of a proton and an electron is 10^40 times stronger

than their gravitational attraction. This accounts for the very strong

forces, which hold the atom together, create the chemical bonds in

molecules and produces the molecular bonds in solids and liquids.

Because of the fact that the electron and proton are exactly equal and

opposite in charge, gross matter is electrically neutral. In fact, if there

was a slight difference in the magnitudes of the electron's and proton's

charge of only one part in 10^20 macroscopic matter would be completely

unstable for the repulsive forces generated by such a minute difference in

charge would be enough to completely destroy all the molecular bonds,

Fig. 11.1

The electric force differs from the gravitational force, however, in two
vital ways. First of all, the gravitational force is only attractive whereas
the electric force can be both attractive and repulsive depending on the
signs of the charges involved. A charged particle is either positive like a
proton or negative like an electron. The proton and electron along with
the neutron are the basic elementary particles that make up the atom. The
proton and electron have equal and opposite charges +e and –e; and the
neutron is electrically neutral. All of the charges that are found in nature
aside from those of exotic elementary particles created in physics labs
are due to electrons and protons. Charges of the same sign repel each
other whereas charges with opposite signs attract each other. The other
difference in the two forces is the fact that the strength of the electric
force is considerably greater than that of the gravitational force. In fact,
the electric attraction of a proton and an electron is 10^40 times stronger
than their gravitational attraction. This accounts for the very strong
forces, which hold the atom together, create the chemical bonds in
molecules and produces the molecular bonds in solids and liquids.
Because of the fact that the electron and proton are exactly equal and
opposite in charge, gross matter is electrically neutral. In fact, if there
was a slight difference in the magnitudes of the electron’s and proton’s
charge of only one part in 10^20 macroscopic matter would be completely
unstable for the repulsive forces generated by such a minute difference in