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Electrical charge is a fundamental property of matter. The elementary unit, positive and negative charges, and conservtion of charge are discussed here. |
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Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter: The subatomic particles of which matter is composed have electric charges. There is a natural fundamental unit of charge
Elementary charge: 1.60217653(14) x10-19 C
All other electrical charges (except certian subatomic particles) are whole number multiples of this fundamental unit. If the number of charges is great enough, electrical charge may be treated as a continuous quantity.
There are two kinds of charge, known as positive and negative. Positively charged particles include the large, massive proton. Negatively charged particles include the small, low mass electron. In the mathematical treatment of electricity, the rules for combination of electric charge are the same as those for positive and negative numbers.
When there are equal numbers of positive and negative charges in a sample of matter, it is electrically neutral, or uncharged. Most matter is most often neutral, but if for some reason there is a deficiency of electrons, it is positively charged, and if there is a surplus of electrons in a body, it is negatively charged.
Any physical process that creates an electrically charged object also creates another of equal but opposite charge. This principle is known as the conservation of charge and is considered a fundamental law of physics. No exception at any scale has ever been reliably reported.
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This will be connected to other areas of science including applications to chemistry, astronomy, earth science, and biology. Other areas of physics including mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity theory, quantum theory, and structure of matter are closely connected. It will also be connected to personal studies, anthropology, culture, social institutions, sociology, and history as the site develops further. |
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