Coulomb: torsion-balance measurements of electrical force

What changed

Electrostatic force became quantifiable by a distance law anchored in torsion measurements.

Scientific scope

1785 electrical memoir programme; magnetic memoirs, earlier observations and later field theory separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record concerns Coulomb’s 1785 electrical memoir programme. The torsion apparatus, separate magnetic work, earlier qualitative observations and later field theory remain distinct.

Contributors

• Charles-Augustin de Coulomb · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Coulomb, Second memoir on electricity and magnetism

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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