Construct · 1 fields · 2 citations

charge: a standalone construct

One name. One construct. A landmark on the map.

● anchor · a standalone construct Nearest construct by meaningconductorcompare the meanings
How to read this

Every construct on the map is compared with every other by the meaning of its definitions, and the closest one is surfaced here. The nearest construct to charge is conductor.

Hold this as a prompt, not a verdict. Two constructs sitting close in meaning is a reason to read them side by side and decide for yourself whether they are one idea under two names. It is not proof that they are. Compare the meanings in the Collider.

charge1 CONSTRUCTElectric chargeMILLIKAN · QUANTIZED

A single standalone construct; nearby constructs are located against it in the Collider. Tap a field for its definition, unit, and measures.

Physics

a conserved, quantized property of matter that determines how strongly a particle takes part in the electromagnetic interaction.

A conserved physical property of matter that determines how strongly a particle takes part in the electromagnetic interaction. In physics charge is a scalar quantity that comes in one of two signs, is conserved in every known process, and is quantized: free charge appears only in integer multiples of the elementary charge e. Millikan's oil-drop measurements in On the Elementary Electrical Charge and the Avogadro Constant (1913) fixed the size of that quantum, and standard treatments such as Griffiths's Introduction to Electrodynamics set out its role as the source of the electric field. The referent is a particle or body, the unit is the coulomb, and the claim is about a law of nature. This meaning shares nothing with the others except the four letters: it is a measured property, not an act, an accusation, or an entry in a ledger.[1][2]

Unit
The charge on a particle or body, in coulombs
Recovery means
Not applicable
Measured by
By the force it feels in a known field, or by counting elementary charges, as in Millikan's oil-drop experiment

Next

Run it through the Collider, or take the citations with you.

See how charge sits against neighbouring constructs in the Collider, or export every reference on this page in one click.

Open in ColliderExport BibTeXReport this entry

Nearby constructs

energy5 fields · 10 citationsjingle · one word, five constructsscienter5 names · 13 citationsjangle · five names, one constructmateriality5 fields · 11 citationsjingle · one word, five constructs

References

  1. Millikan, R. A. (1913). On the elementary electrical charge and the Avogadro constant. Physical Review, 2(2), 109–143. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.2.109
  2. Griffiths, D. J. (2017). Introduction to electrodynamics (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Cited on this page?

Confirm your construct, or correct us.

If your work is cited behind one of these entries, you know better than we do whether we captured the meaning right. Confirm it, suggest an edit, or dispute it, and your name goes on the entry as an author who has checked it, linked to your ORCID.

Claim your construct