static electricity

Electric Charges and Fields

Atomic Structure & Basic Charge Facts

  • Atoms are composed of a central nucleus (protons (+) and neutrons) surrounded by orbiting electrons (-).
  • Charge is a fundamental property of matter measured in coulombs (C).
    • Charge on one electron or proton: 1.6×10−19 C1.6 \times 10^{-19}\,\text{C} (magnitude identical, sign opposite).
    • 1 coulomb corresponds to 11.6×10−19≈6.25×1018\frac{1}{1.6 \times 10^{-19}} \approx 6.25 \times 10^{18} elementary charges (electrons or protons).
  • A neutral atom has equal numbers of