- #1
BillhB
- 35
- 0
So why do Quarks have fractional non-discrete charge? Wouldn't it just be easier to just define ##\frac{1}{3}e## as +e and vice versa to preserve the discreetness of what we define as e?
phinds said:"e" was defined long before quarks were dreamed of.
Dale said:It is still discrete. It comes only in integer multiples of 1/3 e
Dale said:As @phinds said, when e was discovered quarks were unknown. Redefining it later would have been inconvenient.
The concept of charge being quantized means that it can only exist in discrete values or multiples of a fundamental unit. This is due to the nature of charge being carried by subatomic particles, such as electrons, which have a fixed charge value. Therefore, any accumulation of charge will always be a multiple of this fundamental unit.
The quantization of charge was first discovered by physicist Robert Millikan in 1909 through his famous oil drop experiment. This experiment involved observing the motion of oil droplets in an electric field and measuring their charge. The results showed that the charge of each droplet was always a multiple of a specific value, providing evidence for the quantization of charge.
While the charge of subatomic particles is quantized, the interactions between them can lead to the appearance of continuous values in our daily lives. For example, the charge of an object may be a combination of multiple subatomic particles with different charge values, leading to a continuous appearance. Additionally, macroscopic objects have such a large number of particles that the quantization of charge becomes negligible.
Yes, the quantization of charge applies to all types of charge, including electric charge, magnetic charge, and color charge. This is because all types of charge are carried by subatomic particles, which have a fixed charge value. However, the quantization may differ depending on the type of charge, such as the fundamental unit being different for electric and magnetic charge.
The quantization of charge is closely related to the principle of conservation of charge, which states that the total amount of charge in a closed system remains constant. This is because the discrete values of charge make it impossible for charge to be created or destroyed, only transferred between particles. This relationship is essential in understanding the behavior of electric and magnetic fields and their interactions with matter.