Conservation of Charge
Joseph Brown
7 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers charge conservation, elementary charge, net charge, and electric current for the AP Physics 1 exam. It explains the two types of charge, how charge is quantized, and the difference between static and current electricity. It also includes practice questions with an answer key covering calculations of current, charge transfer, and the number of electrons transferred.
#AP Physics 1: Electricity & Charge - Your Last-Minute Guide ⚡
Hey there, future physicist! Let's get you prepped and confident for the AP Physics 1 exam. Remember, you've got this! We're focusing on the core concepts you need, and we'll make sure they stick.
#🎯 Core Concepts: Electricity & Charge (Units 1-7 Focus)
#🔗 Enduring Understanding 5.A & 1.B - Conservation is Key
Conservation Laws: Certain quantities, like charge, are conserved. This means the total amount remains constant within a closed system, even if it changes forms or locations. Think of it like a bank account - you can move money around, but the total amount stays the same unless you deposit or withdraw.
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Charge Conservation: The total electric charge in an isolated system never changes. It's a fundamental principle! This is crucial for solving problems involving interactions between charged objects.
Charge is a property of matter that affects how it interacts with other charged objects. It's like mass, but for electrical interactions.
#🔌 Essential Knowledge 1.B.1 - Net Charge
- The net charge of a system is the sum of all individual charges. Positive and negative charges cancel each other out. If you have +5 and -3, the net charge is +2. -
When solving problems, always start by calculating the total charge before any interaction.
#➕➖ Essential Knowledge 1.B.2 - Two Types of Charge
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There are only two types of electric charge: positive (like protons) and negative (like electrons).
Neutral objects have equal amounts of positive and negative charge. They're not "charge-less," just balanced!
Don't confuse "neutral" with ...
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