Question

Suppose you and a friend are each given a small box containing exactly one Coulomb of charge. Assume you approach each other on foot across a very large empty field. Estimate how close you can get to each other while you each hold a box of charge. Note, you will have to estimate how much electric force you can practically overcome as you try to approach each other. Note: for this problem you can (unrealistically) ignore the electrical effects that these large charges would have on any nearby materials. Assume that the only electric forces that come into play are the forces between the two charges in the small boxes.

Answer 1

The maximum weight ever lifted by a man is 2850 Kg, to lift this mass he would have to overcome gravity of 2850Kg X 9.8 m/sec^2 = 27930 N

So let us try to find for what distance R between the two 1C charges 27930N of repulsive force results

27930 N =(9X10^9) N.m^2/C2 X 1C X 1C/R^2

R^2 = 9 X 10^9/27930

R = 567.7 mrs !

So if both guys with charge boxes( you and your friend) are world record weight lifters they may be able to approach each other upto a distance of 0.57 Km!

Just lift some weights and check what you can do.