Electric charge comes in two types: positive and negative. Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. Conductors allow charges to move freely, whereas insulators hinder charge movement.
Understanding Electric Charge
Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that influences how particles interact with each other. There are two types of charges: positive and negative. According to the principles of electromagnetism, like charges repel each other, while oppositely charged particles attract each other. This is why two positive charges, or two negative charges, do not attract to each other, instead, they repel.
Materials through which charges can move easily are called conductors, such as metals. Conversely, insulators are materials that do not allow charges to move through them easily, meaning that the charges are more stable and will not readily flow. Examples of insulators include glass, pure water, and dry table salt. Conductors allow for many collisions which means charges are constantly on the move, whereas in insulators, charges can be more static due to their strong binding within the structure.
When atoms gain or lose electrons, they become ions. If an atom gains extra electrons, it will have a negative charge, and if it loses electrons, it will have a positive charge. These charged particles react to electric and magnetic fields, which can lead to phenomena such as the northern lights, where charged particles in Earth's magnetic field create spectacular light displays.