Charge vs Coulomb - A paradox?

In summary, the symbol for charge is Q and the SI unit of charge is coulomb, which is equivalent to the charge of approximately 6.241×1018 electrons. However, charge itself is not defined, only in terms of Coulomb, and Coulomb is defined in terms of charge. The SI definition of Coulomb is the charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second. This means that 1C=1A*1s=(q/s)*s=q=charge. However, it may seem confusing that Coulombs and amps are defined in terms of charge when charge itself is a property and not a unit of measurement. In reality, the Ampere is not defined in terms of Coulombs
  • #1
christian0710
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Hi I'm wondering: The symbol of charge is Q but the SI unit of charge is coulumb which is the Charge of approximately 6.241×1018 electrons. But charge is not itself defined, only in terms of Coulomb, and coulomb is defined in termes of Charge. Its SI definition of Coulomb is the charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second:

1C=1A*1s = (q/s)*s=q= charge,

Here is the question
It seems to me that Coulumbs are defined in termes Amps which are defined in terms of charge but charge itself is not a unit of measurement, so how is it possible to define coulumbs and amps in terms of charge when charge is a property and not something we can measure? Charge is part of the equation for Amps A=q/s and Coulumbs=1A*1s = (q/s)*s=q= charge, How does it make sense?
 
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  • #2
The Ampere is not defined in terms of Coulombs, it is defined as , "the constant current that will produce an attractive force of 2 × 10–7 Newton per metre of length between two straight, parallel conductors of infinite length and negligible circular cross section placed one metre apart in a vacuum."
 

FAQ: Charge vs Coulomb - A paradox?

1. What is the difference between charge and Coulomb?

Charge is a fundamental property of matter that describes the amount of electrical energy an object possesses. The unit for charge is the Coulomb. Coulomb is a unit of measurement for electric charge, named after French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb. It is equivalent to the charge of approximately 6.242 x 10^18 protons or electrons.

2. How are charge and Coulomb related?

Charge and Coulomb are directly related, as Coulomb is the unit used to measure charge. The charge of an object is equal to the number of electrons or protons it possesses. For example, an object with a charge of +2 Coulombs has the equivalent of 2 x 6.242 x 10^18 protons or electrons.

3. Can an object have a charge but not a Coulomb?

No, an object cannot have a charge without also having a Coulomb. Charge and Coulomb are two ways of describing the same fundamental property of matter. An object with a charge of +1 Coulomb has the equivalent of 1 x 6.242 x 10^18 protons or electrons.

4. What is the paradox between charge and Coulomb?

The paradox between charge and Coulomb is often based on the fact that the unit for charge, Coulomb, is named after a scientist who studied the force of attraction and repulsion between two charged objects. However, Coulomb's law, which describes this force, uses a different unit for charge, the elementary charge, which is equivalent to approximately 1.602 x 10^-19 Coulombs. This can create confusion or ambiguity when discussing charge and Coulomb.

5. How can the paradox between charge and Coulomb be resolved?

The paradox between charge and Coulomb can be resolved by understanding that the unit for charge, Coulomb, is simply a way of measuring the amount of charge an object possesses. The elementary charge is used in Coulomb's law because it is a more convenient unit for calculating the force between charged objects. As long as we are consistent in our use of units, there is no paradox between charge and Coulomb.

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