The elementary charge, denoted as 'e', is the absolute value of the electric charge carried by a single electron or proton. It is a fundamental constant in physics that represents the smallest possible unit of electric charge in nature.
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The elementary charge is approximately equal to $1.602 \times 10^{-19}$ coulombs (C).
All electric charges in nature are integer multiples of the elementary charge, meaning they are always some whole number times the charge of a single electron or proton.
The conservation of charge states that the total charge in an isolated system remains constant over time, with charge only being transferred, not created or destroyed.
Charge can be transferred between objects through various mechanisms, such as friction, conduction, or induction, resulting in the buildup of static electricity.
The concept of the elementary charge is fundamental to understanding the behavior of charged particles and the interactions between them.
Review Questions
Explain how the elementary charge is related to the concept of electric charge and Coulomb's law.
The elementary charge is the fundamental unit of electric charge, representing the absolute value of the charge carried by a single electron or proton. This means that all electric charges in nature are integer multiples of the elementary charge. Coulomb's law, which describes the force between two stationary, electrically charged objects, is directly proportional to the product of the charges involved. Therefore, the elementary charge is a crucial component in understanding and quantifying the forces between charged particles, as it provides the basic building block for all electric charges.
Describe how the conservation of charge is related to the concept of the elementary charge.
The conservation of charge states that the total charge in an isolated system remains constant over time, with charge only being transferred, not created or destroyed. This principle is directly linked to the concept of the elementary charge, as it means that all electric charges in nature must be integer multiples of the elementary charge. If charge could be created or destroyed, it would violate the conservation of charge. The elementary charge, therefore, serves as the fundamental unit that ensures the conservation of charge is maintained in various physical processes and interactions.
Analyze how the transfer of charge between objects is influenced by the concept of the elementary charge.
The transfer of charge between objects, such as through friction, conduction, or induction, is a key mechanism for the buildup of static electricity. This transfer of charge is directly related to the concept of the elementary charge, as charge can only be transferred in discrete units equal to integer multiples of the elementary charge. The fact that charge is quantized in this way, rather than being a continuous variable, has important implications for understanding the dynamics of charge transfer and the behavior of charged particles in various physical systems and applications.
The physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. Electric charge can be positive or negative.
The physical law that describes the force between two stationary, electrically charged objects. The force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
The region around a charged object where other charged objects experience a force. The electric field is defined as the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge.