AtomicX

Charge

Charge is the electrical property of subatomic particles of which matter consists. Electric charge is the scalar fundamental property of subatomic particles due to which they experience force when placed in an electric or electromagnetic field or in the presence of other charged particles. It is measured in Coulombs (C).

Elementary Charges of Particles

1 \text{ electron } (e^-) = -1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, C

1 \text{ proton } (p^+) = +1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, C

1 \text{ neutron } = 0 \, C

Following points should be noted when about the charges:

Coulomb is a very large unit of charge. In 1 C of charge, there are

\frac{1}{1.602 \times 10^{-19}} = 6.24 \times 10^{18} \, e^-

Thus, realistic laboratory values of charge are in the range of pC, μC, or nC.

Quantization of Charge

According to experimental observation, the only charges that occur in nature are integral multiples of the electronic charge, i.e.,

e = 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, C

(Charge of electron = $-e$ )

Law of Conservation of Charge

The law of conservation of charge states that charge can neither be created nor destroyed. Thus, the algebraic sum of charges inside an isolated system does not change.

What is Charge?

Charge

Elementary Charges of Particles

Following points should be noted when about the charges:

Quantization of Charge

Law of Conservation of Charge