Electric Charge Flashcards

Flashcards about Electric Charge

Electric Charge

A property of some particles which determines their electromagnetic interaction.

Electric

Derived from the Greek word elektron, meaning amber.

Triboelectric Series

A list that ranks various materials according to their tendency to gain or lose electrons when two materials come in contact.

Electrostatics

The branch of science that deals with the phenomena arising from stationary or slowly moving electric charges.

Basic Law of Electrostatics

Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract.

Electron

Negatively charged particle in an atom.

Proton

Positively charged particle in an atom.

Neutron

Uncharged particle in an atom.

Quarks

Particles that make up protons and neutrons, with charges of ±1/3 and ± 2/3 times the electron charge.

Ion

Atom with fewer or more electrons than protons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge.

Principle of Conservation of Charge

The algebraic sum of all the electric charges in any closed system is constant.

Principle of Quantization of Charge

The magnitude of charge of the electron or proton is a natural unit of charge.

Conductors

Materials which electrical charges can be transmitted very easily.

Insulators

Materials which allow very little electrical charges and heat energy to flow.

Charging by Conduction

Charging a neutral object by contact with a charged object.

Charging by Induction

Charging an object without direct contact.

Stepped Leader

Invisible discharge that initiates cloud-to-ground lightning.

Return Stroke

Visible spark that moves up from the ground to meet the stepped leader in lightning.

Xerography

Process used in modern copier machines.