GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Prepared by: Mr. Thomas Jefferson A. Fernando, LPT

Bible Verse of the Day
 ELECTRIC CHARGES
Prepared by: Mr. Thomas Jefferson A. Fernando, LPT
 Electric Charges
The main building block of matter is composed of atoms and
molecules. Its properties are primarily influenced by the
electrically charged particles – proton, electron, and neutron.
The table below shows the properties of the charged particles
in terms of mass, charge, and location.
 Electric Charges
Materials contain a huge amount of positively charged particles
called protons and negatively charged particles called
electrons. When there is an equal number of protons and
neutrons in a matter, the body is electrically neutral. In making
a body negatively charged, electrons are added to a body. On
the other hand, a positively charged body removes electrons.
 Electric Charges
The transfer of electrons from one body to another proves the law of
conservation of charges. These charges are neither created nor
destroyed. According to the principle of conservation of charges, the
sum of electric charges of a body within a closed system is always
constant. In understanding electrostatic interactions, we have to keep in
mind the following conventions:
 Charging Objects
Materials that allow the movement of electrons from
one region to another are called conductors of
electricity, while materials that do not allow the flow of
electrons are called insulators. The majority of the
metals are conductors, while nonmetals are insulators.
The electrons can move while protons and neutrons are
bound to remain fixed in the positive nuclei.
 Charging Objects
Charging objects could happen through induction
and conduction. These charging processes can be
demonstrated through an electroscope. The
electroscope is composed of a metal knob, metal
rod, glass container, and foil (leaf). The small metal
foils are hung at the end of the metal rod. This
should freely move since they open after being
charged.
 Charging Objects
When a charged object is placed near the
metal knob, this causes the foil to open up
since they are being repelled by the
presence of excess charges. The foils drop
down when the charged object is placed
away from the electroscope.
Charging Objects
Charging Objects
 Electric Force
Charles Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806) used a
torsion balance in studying gravitational interaction. He
studied the attractive and repulsive forces between
charges. He found out that the magnitude of force
decreases when the distance of separation between the
charges increases. This is shown by Coulomb’s law as
expressed in the equation below:
Electric Force
Electric Force
NEXT TOPIC: Application of Coulomb’s Law
Prepared by: Mr. Thomas Jefferson A. Fernando, LPT