Electric Charge

Electric charge comes in two kinds:

Like charges repel:

or

Unlike charges attract:

These electric charges are part of the makeup of atoms.

This may be a better "picture" or model of an atom:

Except for hydrogen, the positively charged nucleus also has neutrons in it.

An atom missing an electron has a net positive charge:

Such an atom, missing an electron, is called an ion -- a positive ion.

At atom with one too many electrons has a net negative charge and is also called an ion -- a negative ion.

Ch 17, Table of Contents

Conductors & Insulators

Return to Ch 17, Electrostatics & Electric Energy
(c) Doug Davis, 2000 all rights reserved