AP Physics 2 / Unit 10: Electric Force, Field, and Potential
10.2 Conservation of Electric Charge and the Process of Charging
Notes
Charge is conserved and quantized ($e=1.6\times10^{-19}$ C).
- Friction: electrons move between materials.
- Conduction: charge shared by contact.
- Induction: a nearby charge separates charges; grounding lets some leave.
Practice
Rubbing a balloon on hair gives the balloon a negative charge. The hair becomes:
Electrons moved to the balloon.
Two identical spheres, +6 μC and −2 μC, touch and separate. Each has:
Total +4 shared equally.
Charging by induction requires:
Charges rearrange.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 10 test.