PHY102:GENERAL PHYSICS II
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY,
ILE-IFE.
PROF. M.A. ELERUJA
• The course, PHY102 is usually
taught in the Rain Semester
as the second part of the
foundation course in Physics.
Some of the topics taught in
PHY101 will still be relevant in
this course. Some of these
include: Units, Vectors,
Gravitation, etc.
(21-0)
Chapter 21
Electric Charge
In this chapter we will introduce a new property
of matter known as “electric charge” (symbol
q). We will explore the charge of atomic
constituents, such as electron, proton and
neutron.
Moreover, we will describe the following
properties of charge:
- Types of electric charge
- Forces among two charges (Coulomb’s law)
- Charge quantization
- Charge conservation (21-1)
Empirically it was known since ancient times that if
amber is rubbed on cloth, it acquires the property
of attracting light objects such as feathers. This
phenomenon was attributed to a new property of
matter called “electric charge.” (Electron is the
Greek name for amber.) More experiments show
that there are two distinct types of electric charge:
positive (color code: red) and negative (color
code: black). The names “positive” and “negative”
were given by Benjamin Franklin.
When we rub a glass rod with silk cloth, both
objects acquire electric charge. The sign on the
charge on the glass rod is defined as positive.
In a similar fashion, when we rub a plastic rod with
fur both objects acquire electric charge. The sign
on the charge on the plastic rod is defined as
negative.
(21-2)
Q: Do we have enough information so as to be
able to determine the sign of all other charges in
nature? To answer this question we need one
more piece of information.
Further experiments on charged objects showed
that:
1. Charges of the same type (either both positive or
both negative) repel each other (fig. a).
2. Charges of opposite type on the other hand
attract each other (fig. b).
The force direction allows us to determine the
sign of an unknown electric charge.
Charges of the same sign repel each
other. Charges of opposite sign attract
each other.
(21-3)
The recipe is as follows:
We charge a glass rod by rubbing it with silk cloth.
repulsive
force
Thus we know that the charge on the glass rod is
positive. The rod is suspended in such a way so
that it can keep its charge and also rotate freely
under the influence of a force applied by charge
with the unknown sign. We approach the
suspended glass rod with the new charge whose
sign we wish to determine.
Two outcomes are possible. These are shown in
the figure to the left:
Fig. a: The two objects repel each other. We then
attractive conclude that the unknown charge has a positive
force sign.
Fig. b: The two objects attract each other. We
then conclude that the unknown charge has a
negative sign.
(21-4)
In Benjamin Franklin’s day (18th century)
it was assumed that electric charge is
some type of weightless continuous
fluid. Investigations of the structure of
atoms by Ernest Rutherford at the
beginning of the 20th century revealed
how matter is organized and also
identified the charge of its constituents.
Atoms consist of electrons and the
nucleus.
Atoms have sizes ~ 5×10-10 m.
Nuclei have sizes ~ 5×10-15 m.
The nucleus itself consists of two types
of particles: protons and neutrons.
The electrons are negatively charged.
The protons are positively charged.
The neutrons are neutral (zero charge).
Thus electric charge is a fundamental property of the elementary particles
(electrons, protons, neutrons) out of which atoms are made.
(21-5)
Mass and Charge of Atomic Constituents
Neutron (n) : Mass m = 1.675×10-27 kg; Charge q = 0
Proton (p) : Mass m = 1.673×10-27 kg; Charge q = +1.602×10-19 C
Electron (e) : Mass m = 9.11×10-31 kg; Charge q = -1.602×10-19 C
Note 1: We use the symbols “-e” and “+e” for the electron and proton charge,
respectively. This is known as the elementary charge.
Note 2: Atoms are electrically neutral. The number of electrons is equal to the
number of protons. This number is known as the “ atomic number ” (symbol:
Z). The chemical properties of atoms are determined exclusively by Z.
Note 3: The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is
known as the “ mass number ” (symbol: A).
Notation: Z = 92 = number of protons/electrons
A = 235 = number of protons + neutrons
The atomic number Z = 92 defines the nucleus as that of a uranium atom.
(21-6)
Np
Ne
Nn
(21-7)
silk Conservation of Charge
Consider a glass rod and a piece of silk cloth (both
uncharged) shown in the upper figure. If we rub the
glass rod with the silk cloth we know that positive
charge appears on the rod (see lower figure). At
glass rod the same time an equal amount of negative charge
appears on the silk cloth, so that the net rod-cloth
charge is actually zero. This suggests that rubbing
silk does not create charge but only transfers it from
+ one body to the other, thus upsetting the electrical
+ neutrality of each body. Charge conservation can
- - + be summarized as follows: In any process the
- - + charge at the beginning equals the charge at the
end of the process.
glass rod
(21-8)
(21-9)
+ +
+ + +
(21-10)
• Semiconductors are materials that are intermediate
between conductors and insulators; examples include silicon
and germanium in computer chips.
• Superconductors are materials that are perfect conductors,
allowing charge to move without any hindrance.
(21-11)
Fig. a
Fig. b Connection
to ground
-
-
-
(21-12)
This young woman is enjoying the effects of electrically charging
her body. Each individual hair on her head becomes charged and
exerts a repulsive force on the other hairs, resulting in the
“stand-up” hairdo seen here. (Ted Kinsman / Photo Researchers,
Inc.)
(21-13)
(21-14)
(21-15)
(21-16)
m1
m1 m2
m2 r
F1
Q2
Q1 Q1
Q2 r
F1
(21-17)
