Electric Charges

Storyboard

Electric charges are a fundamental property of matter responsible for electrical and magnetic interactions. There are two types of charge, positive and negative, which can attract or repel each other depending on their sign. Everyday matter is made up of charged particles, such as protons and electrons, whose distribution determines many physical and chemical phenomena.

The presence of electric charge modifies the surrounding space, generating electric fields capable of exerting forces on other charges. When charges move, they also produce magnetic effects, establishing the basis of electromagnetism. The transfer and circulation of charges are also the origin of the electric current used in technological systems.

Electrical charges participate in processes that range from the structure of atoms and chemical bonds to the operation of electronic devices, biological systems and atmospheric phenomena such as lightning. Its behavior constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of modern physics.

>Model

ID:(822, 'ky')


Electron Charge

Description

The electron was discovered by J.J. Thomson [1,2], who determined his Number of electrons ($n_e$), which is equal to $1.6×10^{19}C$.

Measurement of the Charge of the Electron by J.J. Thomson



Therefore, Charge of all electrons ($Q_e$) can be determined from Electron Charge ($e$) divided by Number of electrons ($n_e$), resulting in:

$n_e =\displaystyle\frac{ Q_e }{ e }$

$n_e$
Number of electrons
$-$
$Q_e$
Charge of all electrons
$C$





[1] "Cathode Rays", J.J. Thomson, Philosophical Magazine, 1897

[2] "On the Charge of Electricity Carried by the Ions Produced by Röntgen Rays", J.J. Thomson, Philosophical Magazine, 1897

ID:(3211, 'gm')


Ion Charge

Description

Svante Arrhenius, in his doctoral thesis [1], postulated that there are particles with multiple electron charges, known as ions.



Therefore, its number depends on the Charge of all ions of one type k ($Q_{i,k}$) and the multiple of the Electron Charge ($e$). Thus, Number of k-type ions ($n_{i,k}$) is calculated from Charge of all ions of one type k ($Q_{i,k}$), divided by the charge of each ion, which is Electron Charge ($e$), multiplied by Valency of the k ion ($z_k$):

$n_{i,k} =\displaystyle\frac{ Q_{i,k} }{ z_k e }$

$n_{i,k}$
Number of k-type ions
$-$
$z$
Valency
$-$
$Q_i$
Charge of the ion i
$C$





[1] "Recherches sur la conductibilité galvanique des électrolytes" (Research on the galvanic conductivity of electrolytes), Svante Arrhenius, Doctoral thesis, 1884

ID:(15774, 'gm')


Total Charge

Description

Charge ($Q$) can be calculated by adding Number of electrons ($n_e$) multiplied by Electron Charge ($e$) and the sum of Number of k-type ions ($n_{i,k}$) multiplied by Valency ($z$), if this number is multiplied by Electron Charge ($e$):

$Q = n_e \cdot e + \displaystyle\sum_k n_{i,k} \cdot z_k \cdot e$

$n_e$
Number of electrons
$-$
$n_{i,k}$
Number of k-type ions
$-$
$z$
Valency
$-$
$Q$
Charge
$C$



Since the opposite charges balance each other, it is not possible to determine the total number of charges, nor how many of these are positive or negative.

ID:(15775, 'gm')


Electric Charges

Description

Calculations


First, select the equation:   to ,  then, select the variable:   to 

Symbol
Equation
Solved
Translated

Calculations

Symbol
Equation
Solved
Translated

 Variable   Given   Calculate   Target :   Equation   To be used



Variables

Symbol
Text
Variable
Value
Units
Calculate
MKS Value
MKS Units
$n_e$
n_e
Number of electrons
-
$n_{i,k}$
n_ik
Number of k-type ions
-
$z$
z
Valency
-
$Q$
Q
Charge
C
$Q_e$
Q_e
Charge of all electrons
C
$Q_i$
Q_i
Charge of the ion i
C

ID:(822, 0)


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Palos Verdes, Costa de Corral, Chile