Electric Charge (AQA GCSE Physics) : Revision Note

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Electric Forces Between Charges

  • The charge of a particle is either:

    • Positive

    • Negative

    • Neutral (no charge)

  • Electrons are negatively charged particles, whilst protons are positive and neutrons are neutral

  • This is why in a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons

    • This is so the equal (but opposite) charges cancel out to make the overall charge of the atom zero

Nucleus and electrons, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

The number of negative electrons in an atom balances the number of positive protons

  • Therefore, an object becomes negatively charged when it gains electrons and positively charged when it loses electrons

  • When two charged particles or objects are close together, they also exert a force on each other

  • This force could be:

    • Attractive (the objects get closer together)

    • Repulsive (the objects move further apart)

  • Whether two objects attract or repel depends on their charge

    • If the charges are the opposite, they will attract

    • If the charges are the same, they will repel

opposites-attract-igcse-and-gcse-physics-revision-notes

Opposite charges attract, like charges repel

Attraction or Repulsion Summary Table

  • Attraction and repulsion between two charged objects are examples of a non-contact force

    • This is a force that acts on an object without being physically in contact with it

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember the saying: “Opposites attract

Materials only become positively charged because of the loss of electrons, rather than the 'gain' of any positive charge, which is a common misconception.

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Ashika

Author: Ashika

Expertise: Physics Content Creator

Ashika graduated with a first-class Physics degree from Manchester University and, having worked as a software engineer, focused on Physics education, creating engaging content to help students across all levels. Now an experienced GCSE and A Level Physics and Maths tutor, Ashika helps to grow and improve our Physics resources.

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