Electric Charge

Front

Electrostatics Noun

---

[uh-lek-troh-stat-iks]

Back

Electrostatics

---

The study of stationary electric charges or fields, as opposed to the study of moving electric currents and magnetism.

---

Example: This diagram shows the electric fields around stationary positive and negative charges, a fundamental concept in electrostatics.

Front

Electric Charge Noun

---

[uh-lek-trik chahrj]

Back

Electric Charge

---

A fundamental physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.

---

Example: This diagram shows the two basic rules of electric charge: like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) push each other away (repel), while opposite charges (positive-negative) pull toward each other (attract).

Front

Electron Noun

---

[uh-lek-tron]

Back

Electron

---

A stable subatomic particle with a negative electric charge, which is a primary carrier of electricity in solid materials.

---

Example: This diagram shows electrons as particles that orbit the central nucleus of an atom, a key concept for understanding electric charge.

Front

Quantization of Charge Noun

---

[kwon-tuh-zey-shuhn of chahrj]

Back

Quantization of Charge

---

The principle that the charge of any object is always an integer multiple of the fundamental unit of elementary charge.

---

Example: This image shows that electric charge comes in discrete packets. An object can have a charge of +2e or -1e, but never a fractional charge like -1.5e.

Front

Conservation of Charge Noun

---

[kon-ser-vey-shuhn of chahrj]

Back

Conservation of Charge

---

The fundamental principle stating that electric charge can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred from one system to another.

---

Example: When charge is transferred between two objects, no charge is created or destroyed. The total amount of positive and negative charge in the system remains constant.

Front

Coulomb Noun

---

[koo-lom]

Back

Coulomb

---

The standard international (SI) unit of electric charge, representing the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by one ampere.

---

Example: This diagram shows that electric charges create forces. Like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) push each other away (repel), while opposite charges (positive-negative) pull together (attract).

Front

Electric Force Noun

---

[uh-lek-trik fohrs]

Back

Electric Force

---

The attractive or repulsive force exerted between any two objects that possess an electric charge.

---

Example: This diagram shows that opposite electric charges (+ and -) attract, while like electric charges (+ and + or - and -) repel each other.

Front

Electrical Conductor Noun

---

[uh-lek-trik-uhl kuhn-duhk-ter]

Back

Electrical Conductor

---

A material or substance through which electric charge can flow easily with minimal resistance.

---

Example: This diagram shows a wire labeled 'Electrical conductor' allowing charged particles to flow from a battery, completing a circuit and lighting a bulb.

Front

Electrical Insulator Noun

---

[uh-lek-trik-uhl in-suh-ley-ter]

Back

Electrical Insulator

---

A material or substance whose internal electric charges do not flow freely, making it a poor conductor of electricity.

---

Example: This image shows a ceramic insulator on a power line, a material that prevents the flow of electric charge from the high-voltage wire to the metal pole.

Front

Induction Noun

---

[in-duhk-shuhn]

Back

Induction

---

The process of charging an object by bringing it near a charged object, causing a redistribution of charge without direct contact.

---

Example: Rotating a wire coil within a magnetic field creates, or 'induces,' an electric current, which can power a device like a light bulb.