TheAlgorithms/Python · error · ValueError
The radius is always a positive number
Error message
The radius is always a positive number
What it means
Error "The radius is always a positive number" thrown in TheAlgorithms/Python.
Source
Thrown at physics/coulombs_law.py:35
def coulombs_law(q1: float, q2: float, radius: float) -> float:
"""
Calculate the electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion
between two point charges
>>> coulombs_law(15.5, 20, 15)
12382849136.06
>>> coulombs_law(1, 15, 5)
5392531075.38
>>> coulombs_law(20, -50, 15)
-39944674632.44
>>> coulombs_law(-5, -8, 10)
3595020716.92
>>> coulombs_law(50, 100, 50)
17975103584.6
"""
if radius <= 0:
raise ValueError("The radius is always a positive number")
return round(((8.9875517923 * 10**9) * q1 * q2) / (radius**2), 2)
if __name__ == "__main__":
import doctest
doctest.testmod()
View on GitHub (pinned to f5988cc097)
Solutions
- Pass a positive radius.
When it happens
Trigger: Thrown at physics/coulombs_law.py:35 when the library encounters an invalid state.
Common situations: See trigger scenarios.
AI-assisted analysis of TheAlgorithms/Python@f5988cc097 (2026-08-14).
Data as JSON: /api/errors/83455eca930a2cb8.
Report an issue: GitHub.