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Physics vocabulary · Electricity and Magnetism

Electric charge

Meaning in physics, with examples

nounCore term

In physics, electric charge means: A basic property of matter that makes particles feel electric forces. Charge can be positive or negative; like charges repel and unlike charges attract. It is measured in coulombs (C).

In Turkish: elektrik yükü, yük

How it is used

Often just 'charge'. Objects become charged, gain or lose charge, and charge flows round a circuit. The charge of an electron is about −1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C; its size is called the elementary charge (e). Charge is always conserved.

Example sentences

  1. Rubbing the balloon on your hair transfers negative electric charge to the balloon.

  2. Each of the two small spheres carries an electric charge of 3 μC.

Common collocations

  • positive charge
  • negative charge
  • point charge
  • charge carrier
  • conservation of charge
  • electric currentThe rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a circuit. It is measured in amperes (A), and one ampere is one coulomb of charge per second.
  • electric fieldThe region around a charged object where another charge feels an electric force. Its strength is the force per unit charge, measured in newtons per coulomb (N/C) or volts per metre (V/m).
  • electronA very light particle with a negative charge of about −1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, found around the nucleus of every atom. Moving electrons carry the current in metal wires.
  • voltageThe energy transferred to or by each coulomb of charge between two points in a circuit, also called potential difference. It is measured in volts (V).
  • capacitorA component that stores electric charge and energy in the electric field between two conducting plates separated by an insulator. Its capacitance is measured in farads (F).

More terms: Electricity and Magnetism

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