Coulomb, Charles
Coulomb is best known for his study of electric charge and magnetism
resulting in Coulomb’s Law, as well as his studies in friction.
Coulomb also invented the torsion balance in 1777. He used this device
in many experiments. Coulomb began his career in the military, but
resigned when the French Revolution began. His experience as a military
engineer involved him in a wide variety of different projects. It also
gave him time to continue his own experimental work.
Coulomb’s law states that the force between two charges is
proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to
the square of the distance between the two charges. Coulomb is honored
by having his name used as the unit of electric charge, the coulomb.