LESSON: Gravity and Charge Review

LESSON: Gravity and Charge Review

An object's charge depends on the balance of negatively-charge electrons and positively-charge protons in the object.  Some important things to remember about charge:

• Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract.
• All electrons have the same amount of charge, -1.6 x 10^-19 C.  This is called elementary charge.  Protons have the same magnitude of charge, but positive.
• Electrons can move easily, which is how charge gets transferred/redistributed.
• When charged objects come close together but do not touch, the electrons redistribute within each object to "even out" the charges.  This is called charging by induction.
• When charged objects touch, electrons move between the objects to balance out the charges.  This is called charging by conduction.
• Conductors allow electrons to move easily, and insulators prevent electrons from moving easily.

More detailed information can be found HERE in Lessons 1 and 2.

After you have completed this part of the lesson, you can check the associated box on the main course page to mark it as complete