Introduction

Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Because the number of electrons equals the number of protons, atoms are electrically neutral. Protons have a positive charge, whereas electrons have a negative charge of the same magnitude. Along with the electrically neutral neutrons, protons are found in the nucleus, the core component of an atom.

An electron has a negative charge and moves in a defined orbit around the nucleus. An electron’s and a proton’s electric charge magnitudes are the same, but their natures are diametrically opposed. Because it is made up of electrically neutral particles or atoms, matter is usually electrically neutral.

Electric charges

When matter is held in an electric or magnetic field, it has an electric charge, which causes it to experience a force. An electric charge has an electric field related to it, and a moving electric charge produces a magnetic field. The electromagnetic field is a combination of electric and magnetic fields. The electromagnetic force, which is considered as the cornerstone of physics, is produced due to the interaction of electric and magnetic fields.

Positive and negative electric charges are transported by charge carriers, protons and electrons, respectively. Several types of charges are,

• Positively charged protons
• Negatively charged electrons
• Neutrons are neutral particles with no charge.

Is electric charge scalar or vector?

Though electric charge has both magnitude and direction still it is considered as a scalar quantity. A quantity that is called a vector must fulfil the laws of vector addition, such as the triangle law of vector addition and the parallelogram law of vector addition, in addition to having a magnitude and direction; only then is it called a vector quantity. In the case of an electric current, when two currents meet at a junction, the resultant current is an algebraic sum, not a vector sum. Therefore, having magnitude and direction, an electric current is a scalar quantity.

Types of electric charge:

Electric charges can be divided into two categories:

1. Negative charge: A negative charge exists when an object has more electrons than protons. When an object gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged because the number of electrons in the object exceeds the number of protons.
2. Positive charge: If an object contains more protons than electrons, it is said to have a positive charge. When an object loses electrons, the number of protons in the object exceeds the number of electrons in the object. Which results in gaining a positive charge. The negative and positive charges cancel each other out when the number of positive and negative charges is equal, and the object becomes neutral.

Measurement of electric charge

When a current of one ampere travels across a unit cross-sectional area for one second, the charge is said to be one coulomb. Electric charge is measured in coulomb. The formula for electric charge is: Q=I.t

Where Q is the charge, I is the current and t is the time.

Methods of charging

Charging is the process of adding an electric charge to an object or removing an electric charge from an object. There are three possible ways to charge an uncharged object:

1. Frictional charging: Charge transfer takes place when two items brush against each other. One of the items is losing electrons, while the other is gaining them. When a thing loses electrons, it becomes positively charged, and when it gets electrons, it becomes negatively charged. Because of the friction, both items become charged, and this form of charging is known as electrification by friction.
2. Conduction charging: Charging via conduction is the process of charging an uncharged object by bringing it close to a charged one. Because a charged conductor contains an uneven number of protons and electrons, it discharges electrons to stabilise itself when an uncharged conductor is placed close to it.
3. Induction charging: Charging by induction is the process of charging an uncharged conductor by bringing it close to a charged conductor without making physical contact.

Conclusion

Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Because the number of electrons equals the number of protons, atoms are electrically neutral. Protons have a positive charge, whereas electrons have a negative charge of the same magnitude. 

An electric charge has an electric field related to it, and a moving electric charge produces a magnetic field.

Electric charge is a scalar quantity. It can neither be created nor be destroyed. This is the law of conservation of charge.