Electrostatics

Magnetic Force

The force that occurs due to moving charges; only acts on charges in motion.

Gravitational Force

The attractive force between two masses; always an attractive force.

Quantization of Charge

The concept that electric charge can only exist in discrete amounts, typically multiples of the elementary charge (e).

Fundamental Charge (e)

The charge of an electron, approximately equal to 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.

Coulomb (C)

The SI unit of electric charge; defined as the amount of charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second.

Static Charge

Charge at rest; does not involve any movement.

Dynamic Charge

Charge in motion; associated with current.

Specific Charge

The ratio of charge to mass for a particle, expressed in coulombs per kilogram.

Conservation of Charge

The principle that the total charge in an isolated system remains constant over time.

Force Due to Charge

The force resulting from the interaction between charged particles; can be calculated using Coulomb's law.

Charge Quantization

The idea that the total electric charge of a system is quantized and must be an integer multiple of the charge of a single electron.

Electromagnetic Force

The combined effect of electric and magnetic forces; fundamental to understanding how charged particles interact.

Additivity of Charge

The principle that charges can be added algebraically, taking their signs into account.

Neutron (n0)

A subatomic particle with no charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Proton (p+)

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron (e−)

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.