Quantization of Electric charge

⇒ All the experiments carried out so far indicate that the magnitudes of all charge found in nature are in integral multiple of a fundamental charge ( Q = ne)

⇒ This fact is known as the quantization of electric charge.

⇒ This fundamental charge is the charge of an electron which is denoted by e and it is called the fundamental unit of charge.

⇒ The building blocks of all matter, the particle having charge posses charge equal to e.

⇒ For e.g. a positron (positive electron), unlike electron hs positive charge.

⇒ Any atom, on the whole, appears electrically neutral as the number of electrons and protons are normally equal.

⇒ Now it is beleived that the protons and neutrons consist of more fundamental particles called Quarks.

⇒ These quarks are of two types: the quark possessing +2/3 e charge is called an up quark, the one having -1/3 e charge is called a down quark.

⇒ Matter is formed of such quarks and electrons.

⇒ A proton and a neutrons are formed out of a combination of three quarks.

⇒ Other types of quarks are also discovered which are responsible for the formation of other unstable fundamental particles having uncommon properties.