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Learn about the definition of electric charge, its types, and explore its properties. Delve into topics like Coulomb's Law, methods of charging, and find answers to frequently asked questions about electric charge.
Electric charge (symbol q, sometimes Q) is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. Electric charge can be positive or negative.
The electric field mediates the electric force between a source charge and a test charge. The electric field, like the electric force, obeys the superposition principle. The field is a vector; by definition, it points away from positive charges and toward negative charges.
An electrical charge distributes itself equally between two conducting spheres of the same size. Knowing this allowed Coulomb to divide an unknown charge in half. Repeating this process would produce a sphere with one quarter of the initial charge, and so on.
The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C), after the French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806). The most peculiar aspect of this new force is that it does not require physical contact between the two objects in order to cause an acceleration.
Learning Objectives. By the end of this section, you will be able to: State Coulomb’s law in terms of how the electrostatic force changes with the distance between two objects. Calculate the electrostatic force between two charged point forces, such as electrons or protons.
State Coulomb’s law in terms of how the electrostatic force changes with the distance between two objects. Calculate the electrostatic force between two charged point forces, such as electrons or protons.
