Electric Charge and Electrostatics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts of atomic structure, electric charge, conservation, quantization, charging methods, and Millikan's oil-drop experiment.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a relative charge of $+1\,e$, a relative mass of $1$, and a mass about $1836 \times$ heavier than an electron.

Neutron

An uncharged subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a charge of $0$ and a relative mass of $1$.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle located in shells or energy levels around the nucleus with a relative charge of $-1\,e$ and a relative mass of $\frac{1}{1836}$.

Nucleus

The tiny, dense center of an atom that holds the protons and neutrons.

Neutral Atom

An atom in which the number of protons equals the number of electrons, resulting in a net electric charge of $0$.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms whose number of electrons is different from its number of protons, giving it a net electric charge.

Cation

A positive ion formed when an atom loses electrons, resulting in an electron deficit.

Anion

A negative ion formed when an atom gains electrons, resulting in an electron excess.

Law of Conservation of Charge

The principle stating that the total electric charge of an isolated system remains constant ($Q_{\text{initial}} = Q_{\text{final}}$), meaning charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

Law of Charges

The fundamental rule stating that like charges repel, unlike charges attract, and charged objects can attract neutral objects.

Polarization

The redistribution of charge in a neutral object caused by a nearby charged object, bringing opposite charges closer so that the nearer attractive force is stronger than the farther repulsive force.

Quantization of Charge

The principle stating that electric charge exists in discrete units of the elementary charge, expressed as $Q = N \cdot e$, where $N$ is a signed integer.

Elementary Charge ($e$)

The magnitude of electric charge carried by a single proton or electron, equal to $1.60 \times 10^{-19}\,\text{C}$.

Charging by Friction

A method of charging where two different materials are rubbed together, transferring electrons from one material to another so one becomes positively charged and the other negatively charged.

Charging by Conduction

A method of charging involving direct physical contact between a charged object and a neutral object, allowing electrons to flow directly so both objects end up with the same sign of charge.

Charging by Induction

A method of charging where a charged object is brought near a neutral conductor without contact to redistribute its charges, often followed by grounding to give the conductor a net charge.

Millikan's Oil-Drop Experiment

A historic experiment that measured the force on suspended charged oil droplets between horizontal plates in an electric field, demonstrating that electric charge is quantized in multiples of $e = 1.60 \times 10^{-19}\,\text{C}$.

Force Balance Equation in Electrostatics

The equilibrium formula for a suspended charged droplet in Millikan's experiment, where electric force balances gravitational force, expressed as $|q| E = m g$.