Final answer:
The charge with the greatest magnitude among the options provided is -5, considering that magnitude refers to the absolute value and disregards the sign of the charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the given charges has the greatest magnitude. Magnitude refers to the absolute value of a charge, disregarding its sign (positive or negative). Considering the options provided, a charge of -5, a charge of -2, a charge of +4, and a charge of +1, the charge with the greatest magnitude is -5 since it has the largest absolute value.
Understanding the concept of charge is fundamental in physics. Charges are quantified in terms of the elementary charge unit, which is approximately 1.60×10-19C (Coulombs). Charges can be positive or negative, as carried by protons and electrons respectively, and the magnitude of these charges is always a multiple of the elementary charge.
To answer the supplemental physics lab question provided, we can calculate the total charge by adding the individual charges of the three metal spheres: +3 nC + +3 nC + -5 nC = +1 nC, making option (a) the correct answer.