Is Electric Charge a Physical Entity Like Mass?

AI Thread Summary
Electric charge is a fundamental property of certain subatomic particles that dictates their electromagnetic interactions. It is not composed of matter like mass but is essential in generating electric fields, similar to how mass is related to gravity. Charged matter interacts with and produces electromagnetic fields, which are crucial for the electromagnetic force. This force is one of the four fundamental forces in nature. Understanding electric charge is key to grasping electromagnetic phenomena.
rondi
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hi there,
i've read books and some web sites and I'm wondering this electric charge? Is it something physical (compose of matter)? some say its the one causing the electric field,
by analogy, is it like mass has something to do with gravity?
thank you
 
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Yea you can draw the same analogy as mass causing gravity. Here, a charge emanates an electric field.
 
rondi said:
hi there,
i've read books and some web sites and I'm wondering this electric charge? Is it something physical (compose of matter)? some say its the one causing the electric field,
by analogy, is it like mass has something to do with gravity?
thank you

You're lucky. I just finished a web page which contains a definition of electric charge. See
http://www.geocities.com/physics_world/em/laws_of_electrodynamics.htm

Go to the second section which is entitled "Charge."

Pete
 
rondi said:
hi there,
i've read books and some web sites and I'm wondering this electric charge? Is it something physical (compose of matter)? some say its the one causing the electric field,
by analogy, is it like mass has something to do with gravity?
thank you
Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interaction. Electrically charged matter is influenced by, and produces, electromagnetic fields. The interaction between a moving charge and an electromagnetic field is the source of the electromagnetic force, which is one of the four fundamental forces. I hope it was a good help . Richard 14
 
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