In this lesson, you will explore Coulomb's Law and connections between Kinematics and Electrostatics Motion. You will use computational models built in a modeling environment called NetLogo to explore how charged particles interact. 

Recall that opposite charges attract and like charges repel. These interactions result in an electric force between the two particles. 

The force between two charges depends on two variables:  how strong the charge is, and the distance between the two charges.

The model is built in a modeling environment called NetLogo. NetLogo models are agent-based, meaning that it is composed of individual components which are coded to interact. In the model below, the agents are coded to behave like charged particles. The element of time is experienced in NetLogo through a unit called ticks. With each tick, all agents of the model take commands and perform them (or do nothing if told so), and then the tick counter progresses forward by one. Then any monitors or graphs expressing data from the model are updated. 

The elements of the model can be changed using sliders that let you control specific elements, but it can also be modified using code. Scroll down to look at the code tab if you are curious what NetLogo code looks like. The command center is used to write specific code to interact with the model. 

Explore the model below to see how the amount of charge and the distance between two charges affects Coulombs' force. 

To interact with the model:

1) Adjust sliders on the left side of the model to desired levels. In this lesson, you will mostly be concerned with the TEST-CHARGE slider.

2) Press SETUP. You will see the black space change to a color. If the TEST-CHARGE slider is at a positive value, you will see a blue positive charge appear in the model. If the TEST-CHARGE slider is at a negative value, you will see a red negative charge appear in the model.

3) Press GO. Click the mouse anywhere in the green space. You will see a blue particle appear. Hold down and drag the mouse to move this blue charge in the model. You can also lift up the mouse which will stop the model from ticking forward (you can then press down again to interact with the model).

Using the Electrostatics NetLogo model, plot distance vs. Coulomb's Force. 

To create a plot:

1) In the model, use the TEST-CHARGE slider to choose an electrostatic charge value. Then, click SETUP, then GO as you did before. 

2) Click anywhere in the green box to place the blue charge. Click on the charge and drag it around to adjust the distance between the blue and the other (smaller, red or blue) charge.

3) As you run the model, your data is collected in a data table on the right. Drag the column titled Coulomb's Force to the y-axis of the graph below the data table. Drag the column titled Distance to the x-axis of the graph. 

4) Repeat with different electrostatic charge values. 

Using the Electrostatics model, plot distance vs. potential energy. 

To create a plot:

1) In the model, use the CHARGE slider to choose an electrostatic charge value. Then, click SETUP, then GO.

2) Click anywhere in the green box to place the grey charge. Click on the charge and drag it around to adjust the distance between the grey and blue charge. 

3) Your data has been collected in a data table on the right. Drag the column titled Potential Energy to the y-axis of the graph below the data table. Drag the column titled Distance to the x-axis of the graph. 

4) Repeat with different electrostatic charge values. 

Now that you have used a NetLogo model to explore how the distance between particles effects potential energy and Coulomb's force, answer the questions below. You can use the model below to aid in your explanations.