Electric Charge

Description:

ELECTRIC CHARGE − Is a property of matter due to which the matter apply force on the other matter. It is different than gravitation and is a much stronger force.

By nature the net electric charge in a body is zero.

The net charge is  DEVELOPED by many methods. One of the method is rubbing one material with another.

It is compulsory that CHARGE EXIST ON A MATTER ( particle)

Basic Characteristics of Electric Charges

• Charge is carried by material − The basic condition for electric charge is that the charge is carried by matter. If there is no material, there is no existence of charge.

• Electrostatic cling − The two objects are attracted to each other because of the electric charges developed over them. This phenomenon is called electrostatic cling.

  Ex.(1) Ink is having electrostatic cling with the paper, so we can write on the paper.

  (2) Clothes sticks to our body is due to electrostatic cling.

• Rubbing create electrical charges − when we rub the material with the other body, charge is developed over it. This is due to the friction between the two bodies.

  If there is no friction between the bodies then there will be no transfer of charges and hence no electrification on the body.

• Electrification − is the term used when a body acquire electric charge.

Electrostatics − Branch of electricity in which we study the effect of static (non-moving) charges. Charges apply force on other charged body, and the nature of force is either attractive or repulsive depending on the nature of charge on the two bodies.

Ex: (1) A charged glass is brought near to a charged plastic, they attract each other. Fig (a)

(2) A charged glass is brought near another charged glass, they repel each other. Fig (b)

But we know that one charge cannot express two types of behavior. To show different behavior (attractive or repulsive) there has to be two different type of charges.

Types of Charges proposed by Benjamin Franklin −

1. Positive Charges (+ Ve) as on glass after rubbing.

2. Negative Charges (- Ve) as on plastic after rubbing.

Charges were given name as positive (+ Ve) and negative (-Ve) because on addition, they can give ‘0’ resultant, which is the property of mathematical numbers only having +ve and -ve figures.

1. Two bodies having similar charges repel but having opposite charges attract each other.