Master the Basics: What is Electrical Charge?

Before diving into electricity, it’s essential to understand electrical charge, as electricity is simply the movement and accumulation of electrically charged particles.

What is Electrical Charge?

Electrical charge is a fundamental property of matter. You may have experienced it when getting shocked by a doorknob after walking on a carpet—this is caused by an imbalance of electrical charge.

Scientists discovered that rubbing certain materials together could make them attract or repel each other. This occurs because friction transfers charge between objects, creating an imbalance.

The Building Blocks of Charge: Atoms and Particles

All matter is made up of atoms, which consist of three types of tiny particles:

• Protons – Positively charged.
• Electrons – Negatively charged and able to move between atoms.
• Neutrons – Neutral, with no charge.

The unit of charge is the coulomb (C), representing a specific number of electrons or protons.

How Charge Affects Objects

• Like charges repel – Two electrons or two protons push away from each other.
• Opposite charges attract – A negatively charged electron is attracted to a positively charged proton.

When an object has equal positive and negative charges, it is neutral. If it gains or loses electrons, it becomes charged.

Real-World Example: Rubbing a Balloon on a Wool Scarf

• Before rubbing, both are neutrally charged.
• After rubbing, electrons transfer from the wool to the balloon, making the balloon negatively charged and the scarf positively charged.
• The opposite charges attract, causing the balloon to stick to the scarf.
• Over time, electrons return, and both objects become neutral again.

Electricity: The Flow of Electrons

When electrons accumulate or move, they create electricity. Electrical engineers work like plumbers, but instead of directing water through pipes, they control the flow of electrons in circuits to perform useful tasks—like powering your computer and the internet!

Key Takeways

Understanding electrical charge is the first step in grasping how electricity works. By studying how charges interact and move, we can harness electricity to power modern technology and build innovative electronic circuits.