IB Physics D2 Notes

Topic D.2 focuses on the basics of electricity and magnetism. Since electricity is generated by the movement of charged particles, we need to understand what charge is. If you remember, there are two types of charge.

1. Positive charge – found in protons
2. Negative charge – found in electrons

Neutral charge, found in neutrons, is the presence of equal amounts of positive and negative charge.

Because protons and electrons compose all matter, charge is a fundamental property of all matter. The unit of charge is denoted by q and measured in Coulombs (C), where 1 C = the charge of 6.25 x 10¹⁸ particles.