PHYS 122 Lecture 3: Physics 02 2018 Class 03_Ch.22
26 Jan 2018
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All objects are composed of atoms, and atoms contain protons, electrons, and neutrons. Objects can become charged by gaining or by losing electrons. While the gain or loss can occur by a variety of methods, the most common involves rubbing one object against another object. The process of rubbing two different materials together often results in the transfer of electrons. Electrons are transferred from the less electron-loving object to the more electron- loving object. Protons are never transferred since they are tightly bound within the nucleus of atoms. Electrons are charged negatively and protons are charged positively. While an electrically neutral object has a balance of protons and electrons, a charged object possesses an imbalance of these two types of subatomic particles. Positively charged objects contain more protons than electrons. Negatively charged objects contain more electrons than protons. The charge that an object possesses can often be determined by observing how it interacts with objects of known charge.
