Question

Explain the following
a) conservation of electric charge b) quantization of electric charge

Answer 1

$\sf\huge\bold{Answer:}$

$\fbox{Conservation of electric charge}$

According to the law of conservation of charge , the algebraic sum of positive and negative charges in an isolated system, remains constant.

Formula :

» electric charge accumulation rate in a specific volume at time t = amount of charge flowing into the volume (time)- amount of charge flowing out of the volume(time)

In simple words, initial charge = final charge

Cause of conservation of charge :

The basic idea behind the conservation of charge is that the total charge of the system is conserved.

Experimental verification :

• The best experimental tests of electric charge conservation are searches for particle decays that would be allowed if electric charge is not always conserved. No such decays have ever been seen.
• The best experimental test comes from searches for the energetic photon from an electron decaying into a neutrino and a single photon.
• mean lifetime is greater than 6.6×1028 years (90% Confidence Level), e ⟶ v + y.

$\fbox{Quantization of electric charge}$

The quantization of electric charge is the property by virtue of which, the charge on a body is an integral multiple of a basic unit of charge of an electron/proton, represented by e.

Formula :

Charge q of a body is always given by, q = ne

Where n = any integer and e = 1.6 × 10-19 C

Cause of quantization of charge :

The basic cause quantization of electric charge is that during rubbing only an integral number of electrons can be transferred from one body to another

Quantization of electric charge is an experimentally verified law:

• The experimental laws of electrolysis discovered by Faraday first suggested the quantization of electric charge.
• Millikan's oil drop experiment in 1912 on the measurement of electric charge further established the quantization of electric charge.