AP Physics C/Electric Charge

Fundamentals of Electric Charge

• Intrinsic to fundamental particles
• 2 types: positive (+), negative (-)

Positive - Lack of electrons Negative - More electrons No charge = Neutral

Same charges repel: + and + or - and - Opposite charges attract: + and -

• Coulomb: Measurement of the amount of electric charge (similar to moles in chemistry)

Atomic Particle	Mass	Charge
Neutron	1.675 * 10−27 kg	0 C
Proton	1.673 * 10−27 kg	1.602 * 10−19 C
Electron	9.11 * 10−31 kg	-1.602 * 10−19 C

Atomic Notation

$_{Z}^{A}E$

• A = Atomic mass = # protons + # neutrons
• Z = Atomic Number = # protons
• E = element symbol (like U for Uranium)