Coulomb's Constant

Discovered by: The "international coulomb" based on laboratory specifications for its measurement was introduced by the International Electrical Congress in 1908.

What is it? Also called the electric force constant, or the electrostatic constant is a proportionality constant in electrodynamics equations. The value of this constant is dependent upon the medium that the charged objects are immersed in. Shown here in SI units, in the case of vacuum.

Why is it important? A fundamental constant in physics.