What is Charge in Physics and Electronics: Electric Charge

Learn What is Charge in Physics and Electronics.

Here we Learn What is Charge in Physics and Electronics.

What is Charge?

Electric Charge may be defined as the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons.

It comes in two forms, positive (+) , and negative ( ) .

Properties

Charge is conserved. This means that you cannot create or destroy it. It can just change its “Form”.

How is Electric Charge Generated?

In Physics and Chemistry, we all studied Structure of an Atom that has equal Number of Electrons, Protons and Neutrons. Electrons are Negatively Charged, Protons are Positively Charged and Neutrons are Neutrally Charged.

Structure of an Atom

If by any means, some electrons from one atom of a body moves to another atom of another body then there is Deficiency of Electrons (Negatively Charged) in the Donor Atom and Excess of Protons (Positively Charged) in the Receiver Atom.

Thus the Donor Body becomes Negatively Charged (because of Excess Electrons) and the Receiver  becomes Positively Charged (Because of Excess Protons). This is how Electric Charge is Generated.

Read: How is Electricity Generated

Unit of Charge

The unit of charge is the Coulomb, C. The symbol is Q.

What is Electromagnetic Field?

An electric charge has an electric field, and if it is moving it also generates a magnetic field. In Physics, combination of the electric and magnetic field is called electromagnetic field.

Formula to Calculate Electromagnetic Field

The most simple formula to calculate Formula to Calculate Electromagnetic Field is:

E = F/Q; where

  • E = Electric Field
  • F = Force
  • Q = Charge

Methods of Charging

1. Induction

Wireless charging technology that uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects using electromagnetic induction to produce electricity across a magnetic field.

2. Conduction

Charging technology in which both objects acquire the same type of charge. If a negative object is used for charging a neutral object, then both objects become negatively charged. If a positive object is used for charging a neutral object, then both objects become positively charged.

3. Triboelectricity

The process of electron (Negatively Charged) transfer as a result of two objects coming into contact with each other and then separating (Example: Static Electricity).

Static Electricity (Static Charge)

Static electricity is electrical charge at rest. This is mainly created by imbalance of electrons that stay on a specific surface, or in the environmental air. The imbalance of electrons causes an electrical field that is capable of influencing other objects at a distance.

Example: Lighting in the Clouds

FAQs: Electric Charge

Electric charge is measured in units called coulombs (C). The basic unit of charge is the elementary charge, approximately 1.602 x 10^-19 C, carried by a single electron or proton. Charges can be measured using sensitive instruments like electrometers and charge detectors.

Objects become charged through the transfer of electrons between them. When electrons are added to an object, it becomes negatively charged, and when electrons are removed, it becomes positively charged. This transfer can occur through friction, conduction, or induction processes.

Static electricity is the accumulation of electric charge on the surface of an object due to friction or contact with other charged objects. When two objects rub against each other, electrons can be transferred, leaving one object positively charged and the other negatively charged. This imbalance of charges can lead to spark discharges or attraction between the objects. Hence ESD Protection and Safety is important to prevent damage.

Electric charge creates electric fields, which are regions of influence around charged objects. Electric fields exert forces on other charges within their influence. The strength of the electric field is proportional to the magnitude of the charge creating it and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the charge. This relationship is described by Coulomb's law.

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Santosh Das

Santosh, founder of this Electronics Tutorial Website, is an Electronics Geek, Blogger and Young Entrepreneur. He possesses vast experience in the field of electronics, electronic components, PCB, Soldering, SMT, Telecommunication, ESD Safety, and PCB Assembly Tools, Equipment and Consumables. Keep visiting for daily dose of Tips and Tutorials.

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14 Responses

  1. July 27, 2019

    […] What is Charge? […]

  2. July 30, 2019

    […] flow of electrons or negative charge creates electric current. Solar cells have positive and negative contacts, like the terminals in a […]

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    […] produce a difference in electric potential energy, or voltage. The flow of electrons or negative charge creates electric […]

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    […] unit of charge is the Coulomb, C. The symbol of electric charge is […]

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    […] it takes an opposing force to keep two charges of opposite sign apart, just like it takes force to keep an apple from falling to […]

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    […] 1 farad capacitor, when charged with 1 coulomb of electrical charge, has a potential difference of 1 volt between its […]

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    […] devices work one needs a more complete description of the nature of charge in the real world. Charge does not exist independently; it is carried by subatomic […]

  10. August 6, 2019

    […] electricity or ESD is an electrical charge that is at rest. This is mainly created by an imbalance of electrons that stay on a specific […]

  11. August 10, 2019

    […] is the energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor. It is carried by wires or produced by Battery and is used to power […]

  12. November 19, 2019

    […] What is Charge? […]

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    […] the Layden Jar in 1745. It was the first electrical capacitor– a storage mechanism for an electrical charge. The first ones were a glass jar filled with water-two wires suspended in the water. Muschenbrock […]

  14. November 30, 2019

    […] charges are brought close to each other, they also repel. But when a positive and a negative charge are brought close together, they attract each other. When these two opposite charges are combined, […]

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