Elementary Charge: Read or Calculate?

AI Thread Summary
Equipment such as mass spectrometers can measure the mass of atomic particles, while the elementary charge is typically known through calculations rather than direct measurement. The elementary charge is associated with protons and electrons, with atoms generally being neutral overall. When atoms gain or lose electrons, they can become positively or negatively charged. The discussion references Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment as a historical method for determining the charge of an electron. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping atomic structure and behavior.
Ankhen
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Hi. Do there exits equipment that can read the elementary charge of atom? Or do we only know there charge by calculation?
And the same question about there mass
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Do you also know about mass spectometers?
 
Ankhen said:
Hi. Do there exits equipment that can read the elementary charge of atom? Or do we only know there charge by calculation?
And the same question about there mass
An atom does not have an elementary charge associated with it.
Usually an atom is neutral, so its overall charge is zero.
Some atoms may become positive or negative, when the charge balance is disturbed.
Elementary charge is carried by the components of atoms, protons and neutrons. Each proton has an elementary positive charge and each electron has an elementary negative charge.
 
  • Like
Likes Ankhen
anorlunda said:
Do you also know about mass spectometers?
Nope, but thanks
 

Thread 'Maxwell stress tensor'

This is from Griffiths' Electrodynamics, 3rd edition, page 352. I am trying to calculate the divergence of the Maxwell stress tensor. The tensor is given as ##T_{ij} =\epsilon_0 (E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} E^2)+\frac 1 {\mu_0}(B_iB_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} B^2)##. To make things easier, I just want to focus on the part with the electrical field, i.e. I want to find the divergence of ##E_{ij}=E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij}E^2##. In matrix form, this tensor should look like this...
View full post »
Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Please can anyone either:- (1) point me to a derivation of the perpendicular force (Fy) between two very long parallel wires carrying steady currents utilising the formula of Gauss for the force F along the line r between 2 charges? Or alternatively (2) point out where I have gone wrong in my method? I am having problems with calculating the direction and magnitude of the force as expected from modern (Biot-Savart-Maxwell-Lorentz) formula. Here is my method and results so far:- This...
View full post »

Similar threads

Elementary Charge: Explaining the Integer Multiple of e
Replies
13
Views
5K
Number of free conduction electrons in a segment of wire
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Only one type of elementary electric charge?
Replies
10
Views
1K
I Charging a small metal ball from a charged hollow sphere
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Capacitor surface charge movement current, relativistic effects
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Seeking the Equation of Motion for a charged mass attached to a spring
Replies
22
Views
3K
B How is surface charge accumulated?
Replies
36
Views
6K
The Fundamental Differences Between Electric and Magnetic Fields in Relativity
Replies
9
Views
2K
I Problems in classical electrodynamics: Only for point-like particles?
Replies
1
Views
1K
Calculating the force on an electron from two positive point charges
Replies
2
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top