Class 12th Physics-Electric Charges and Fields – Properties of Charges – part-5.
Class 12th Physics-Electric Charges and Fields – Properties of Charges – part-5.
In the study of electric charges and fields, understanding the properties of electric charges is fundamental. Here are the key properties:
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Additivity of Charges: The total charge of a system is the algebraic sum of individual charges. For example, if a system contains charges q1,q2,q_1, q_2, and q3q_3, the total charge QQ is given by:
Q=q1+q2+q3Q = q_1 + q_2 + q_3
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Quantization of Charge: Electric charge is quantized, meaning it exists in discrete packets rather than a continuous amount. The smallest unit of charge is the elementary charge ee, approximately equal to 1.6×10−191.6 \times 10^{-19} coulombs. Therefore, any charge qq can be expressed as:
q=n×eq = n \times e
where nn is an integer.
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Conservation of Charge: The total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant over time, regardless of internal changes. This principle implies that charge can neither be created nor destroyed but only transferred from one body to another.
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Attraction and Repulsion: Like charges repel each other, while unlike charges attract each other. This behavior is described by Coulomb’s law, which quantifies the electrostatic force between two point charges.Toppers Bulletin+2Orchids The International School+2CoolGyan+2
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Charge Invariance: The value of electric charge is independent of the frame of reference. This means that the amount of charge on a body remains the same, regardless of its motion relative to an observer.
These properties are foundational to understanding electrostatics and are extensively discussed in Chapter 1 of the NCERT Class 12 Physics textbook. For detailed explanations and problem-solving techniques related to these properties, you can refer to the NCERT solutions provided by various educational platforms.
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