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What is the mainstream answer? And why is asking if the electric charge is quantized important? What does it mean to have charge that is not quantized?
Electric charge is quantized because it is the fundamental property of matter that results from the presence of electrically charged particles, such as protons and electrons. These particles have a specific and indivisible amount of charge, which cannot be broken down into smaller units. This is known as the elementary charge, and it is the smallest unit of charge that exists in nature. Therefore, all electric charges must be a multiple of this elementary charge, making them quantized.
The concept of quantized electric charge was first proposed by the physicist Robert Millikan in the early 1900s. Through his famous oil drop experiment, Millikan was able to measure the charge of an electron and found that it was always a multiple of the elementary charge. This provided strong evidence for the idea of quantized electric charge and opened up a new field of study in physics.
All charge, including electric charge, is believed to be quantized. This means that not only electrically charged particles, but also particles with other types of charge (such as color charge in quarks) have a quantized amount of charge. However, this is still an active area of research and some scientists are exploring the possibility of non-quantized charges in certain systems.
The quantization of electric charge has a significant impact on our everyday lives, as it is the basis for many technologies that we rely on. For example, electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and televisions all function because of the precise manipulation of electric charge. Without the quantization of charge, these devices would not work as efficiently or reliably.
At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the quantization of electric charge can change. The concept is deeply rooted in our understanding of the fundamental properties of matter and has been supported by numerous experiments and observations. However, as our understanding of the universe continues to evolve, it is always possible that new discoveries may challenge our current understanding of quantized electric charge.