A-level Physics (Advancing Physics)/Charge

Electrons, like many other particles, have a charge. While some particles have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge. The charge on an electron is equal to approximately -1.6 x 10⁻¹⁹ coulomb. The coulomb (commonly abbreviated C) is the SI unit of charge. One coulomb is defined as the electric charge carried by 1 ampere (amp) of current in 1 second. It is normal to ignore the negative nature of this charge when considering electricity.

If we have n particles with the same charge Q_particle, then the total charge Q_total is given by:

Q_total = n Q_particle

By a simple rearrangement:

$n={\frac {Q_{total}}{Q_{particle}}}$

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