Electric Charge Electric charge comes in two kinds:
Like charges repel:
or
Unlike charges attract:
These electric charges are part of the makeup of atoms.
This may be a better "picture" or model of an atom:
Except for hydrogen, the positively charged nucleus also has neutrons in it.
An atom missing an electron has a net positive charge:
Such an atom, missing an electron, is called an ion -- a positive ion.
At atom with one too many electrons has a net negative charge and is also called an ion -- a negative ion.
(c) Doug Davis, 2000 all rights reserved
Return to Ch 17, Electrostatics & Electric Energy
