Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that causes objects to experience electrical forces. There are two types of electric charge: positive and negative. Protons carry positive charge, while electrons carry negative charge; neutrons have no electric charge. Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract each other. The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C).
Electric charge is produced when electrons are transferred from one object to another. For example, when a balloon is rubbed against hair, electrons may move from the hair to the balloon. The balloon gains extra electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the hair loses electrons and becomes positively charged. Charge can also be produced or separated by friction, conduction, and induction.
🎈 Static Electricity: Rubbing a Balloon on Hair
Drag the balloon back and forth across the hair. Electrons move from the hair to the balloon. Then move the charged balloon close to the wall.