Rex Kerr
Dec 27, 2022

Actually, the way you've asked it, just sum the forces--that's easier than switching to an energy-based formalism.

If you have vector forces f1, ..., fN, then the "blend" is, literally, f1 + f2 + ... + fN. For instance, if you're an electron at the origin, and there are protons at positions (x1,y1,z1) , (x2,y2,z2), ..., (xN,yN,zN) then the force on you is k0*e^2/(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)^(3/2)*(x1,y1,z1) + k0*e^2/(x2^2 + y2^2 + z2^2)^(3/2)*(x2,y2,z2) + ... + k0*e^2/(xN^2 + yN^2 + zN^2)^(3/2)*(xN,yN,zN), where e is the unit charge and k0 is the Coulomb constant.

Gravity doesn't magically appear anywhere here. Electrostatic forces blend to give...an electrostatic force (in a fixed reference frame).

Rex Kerr
Rex Kerr

Written by Rex Kerr

One who rejoices when everything is made as simple as possible, but no simpler. Sayer of things that may be wrong, but not so bad that they're not even wrong.

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