An electric charge (q or
Q) is the quantity of unbalanced
electricity in an object (either
positive or negative). It
is interpreted as an excess
or deficiency of electrons.
Matter that possesses a charge
is influenced by and produces
electromagnetic
fields.
Electrons, by convention
have an elementary charge
of -1. Ions
are either positively or negatively
charged. The unit of measurement
of the charge of an object
is the coulomb, which represents
6.24 x 1018
elementary charges. |