Electric Charge is basic property of matter or subatomic particles ?

[SHASHWAT PRATAP SING]

In some textbooks it is given that -

Electric charge is the characteristic property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.

and In other textbooks it is given that -

Electric Charge is the property of subatomic particles that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.

I am confused Is electric charge a characteristic property of matter or characteristic property of subatomic particles ? or both ?

Please help me.

 

[BvU]

Hi,

Since ordinary matter is built up from atoms and molecules, that in turn are built up from subatomic particles, you want to prefer the second of the two:

Electric Charge is the property of subatomic particles that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.

You'll run into less problems later on in your curriculum.

$\$

 

[SHASHWAT PRATAP SING]

you want to prefer the second of the two:

You'll run into less problems later on in your curriculum.

sorry BvU but, I didn't get what do you mean by this.

 

[anorlunda]

He is saying that subatomic particles are matter, so that both statements are correct, but he likes the second statement better.

 

[PeroK]

both ?

Both. It's also a characteristic property of antimatter.

It should be clear that these two statements are in no way contradictory. You might even say they corroborate each other, given that matter is composed of particles.

That you see a problem reconciling those two statements suggests you need to rethink how you evaluate information.