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Physics Form 5 Science

CHAPTERS 1 : electrostatics

ELECTRIC CHARGE

Electric charge is the amount of electricity a body possesses and there are two types of electric charges; positive and negative. The quantity of charge on a body is measured in coulombs (C).

All matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. A model of the structure of an atom is shown in the figure below;

The nucleus contains two sub-atomic particles;

 

  • Protons each of them carrying a positive charge.
  • Neutrons which carry no charge (neutral).

So overall, the nucleus is positively charged.

The electronic shells surrounding the nucleus carry electrons and each electron carries a negative charge.

The number of electrons is always equal to the number of protons in an atom and it is said to be neutral.

 

par Claude Foumtum