Electric Charge: Definition

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Questions and Answers

What occurs when two materials are rubbed together and electrons are transferred?

Both materials lose protons.

One material becomes positively charged, and the other negatively charged. (correct)

Both materials become neutral.

Both materials gain electrons.

What does the Law of Conservation of Charge state?

The total electric charge in an isolated system is constant. (correct)

A positively charged object can become neutral by gaining electrons.

Electrons can disappear when traveling through air.

Charges are created when two objects touch.

What type of force occurs between two charged objects with the same charge?

Their forces cancel each other out.

They experience no force.

They attract each other.

They repel each other. (correct)

How does the electrostatic force change as the distance between charges decreases?

It increases. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about electrostatic attraction is true?

It occurs between charges of opposite signs. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon is demonstrated when a person's hair stands on end after interacting with a van de Graaff generator?

Electrostatic repulsion. Signup and view all the answers

What causes a lightning bolt to form during a thunderstorm?

Repulsion of like charges in clouds. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to an atom when it gives up electrons?

It gains a positive charge. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of static electricity, what is meant by a 'charged particle'?

An atom with an imbalance between protons and electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What causes different charges to attract each other?

Opposite electric fields. Signup and view all the answers

What property is measured in units of Coulombs?

Electric charge Signup and view all the answers

Which particles within an atom have no charge?

Neutrons Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding a neutral atom?

The number of protons equals the number of electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the charge of a proton?

1.602 x 10^-19 C Signup and view all the answers

What happens when electrons are added or removed from an atom?

The atom can become an ion. Signup and view all the answers

What type of charge do electrons carry?

Negative Signup and view all the answers

How do protons and electrons compare in terms of charge?

They have equal magnitudes of charge but opposite signs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mass of an electron?

9.11 x 10^-31 kg Signup and view all the answers

Which particle has a mass of 1.67 x 10^-27 kg?

Proton Signup and view all the answers

When an atom becomes an ion, what type of charge does it have?

Positive or negative Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Electric Charge Definition

Matter consists of atoms, which contain electrons, protons, and neutrons.
Protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral) are found in the nucleus, while electrons (negative charge) orbit around the nucleus.
Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter, measured in Coulombs.
Protons and electrons are the smallest charged particles, each with an elementary charge of e = 1.602 x 10^-19 C.
Atoms are usually neutral, with equal numbers of protons and electrons resulting in a net charge of zero.

Characteristics of Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons

Proton: Mass = 1.67 x 10^-27 kg; Charge = +1.602 x 10^-19 C.
Electron: Mass = 9.11 x 10^-31 kg; Charge = -1.602 x 10^-19 C.
Neutron: Mass = 1.67 x 10^-27 kg; Charge = 0 C.

Accumulation of Electric Charges

Certain atoms can easily gain or lose electrons, resulting in ions with a net charge.
Loss of electrons leads to a net positive charge; gain of electrons results in a net negative charge.
Rubbing materials together can transfer electrons, creating static electric charges, as seen when a balloon rubbed on hair acquires negative charge while hair becomes positively charged.

Law of Conservation of Charge

When two objects exchange electrons, the total electric charge remains constant.
The Law of Conservation of Charge states that charges cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

Attraction and Repulsion of Charges

Opposite charges attract; like charges repel.
The strength of electrostatic force depends on the magnitudes of the charges and the distance between them.
Charged objects exert forces that can cause significant effects, as observed with the behavior of hair when charged.

Electrostatic Attraction and Repulsion

Electrostatic Attraction: Occurs between charged objects with opposite charges, pulling them together with an increasing force as they get closer.
Electrostatic Repulsion: Occurs between objects with like charges, pushing them apart; the force strengthens as they draw nearer.

Example: Lightning

Thunderstorms create charge buildup in clouds due to movement of water droplets.
Opposite charges in clouds attract, while like charges repel, leading to a discharge of energy in the form of lightning.
Lightning is powerful, capable of causing fires, injury, and disrupting electrical systems on Earth.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concept of electric charge in this quiz. Understand the roles of electrons, protons, and neutrons within an atom and how their charges impact the behavior of matter. Test your knowledge of atomic structure and electric charge fundamentals.