ELECTROSTATICS

ELECTROSTATICS

1. Charge (unit: C, Coulomb)

   • The property of a particle which causes it to interact with other charged particles, and also materials of electrical nature.
     • Particles are either positively or negatively charged.
       • When 2 charged particles are put together, they experience an electric force. Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.
   • 1 Coulomb: the charge which passes a section in a circuit when a steady current of 1 ampere flows for 1 second.
   • The charge of a proton is e = 1.60 x (10^−19) C
     • Hence the charge of an electron is: -e = -1.60 x (10^-19) C
       • Since the charge of all particles in the world is determined by the ions it contains. any charge must be a multiple of this value. (i.e. Q = n e , where n is an integer)

2. Electrostatic charging

   • 3 methods
     • By friction
     • By contact
     • By induction