PHYS 2211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Elementary Charge, Net Force, Thought Experiment
Document Summary
Particles that react to electromagnetic forces have the property of charge associated with them. One could construct the analogy that mass is to gravity as charge is to electricity. At the end of this unit you should be able to write a wonderful compare and contrast paper between electricity and gravity. If you have already completed a course in chemistry then the concept of charge should be familiar to you. Unlike in chemistry where +1, 0 and -1 were good enough for conserving charge we need to be a little more exact. You have been taught that all matter is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. The symbol, mass and charge for these basic particles are listed to the right. You should refer to this table as you complete problems in this unit. Most electrical charges are very small in value.