Charge in electronics refers to the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. In simple terms, it is the flow of electric current through a conductive material.
Charge is measured in units of Coulombs (C) in electronics. One Coulomb is equal to the amount of electric charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second.
In electronics, positive charge refers to an excess of protons in an atom or material, while negative charge refers to an excess of electrons. Positive charge is typically associated with the flow of electric current, while negative charge is associated with the flow of the opposite direction.
The behavior of electronic components is heavily influenced by the presence and movement of charge. For example, in a circuit, the flow of charge (electric current) through a resistor creates heat, and the flow of charge through a semiconductor can result in amplification of a signal.
In electronics, charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or redistributed. This is known as the law of conservation of charge. When an object gains or loses electrons, it becomes charged and can then interact with other charged objects.