Alkeisvaraus

Alkeisvaraus, often translated as "elementary charge" or "unit charge", refers to the magnitude of the electric charge of a single electron or a single proton. It is a fundamental physical constant, denoted by the symbol 'e'. The value of the elementary charge is approximately 1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. This means that all observable amounts of electric charge are integer multiples of this fundamental unit. For example, an atom with a net charge of +2e would have a deficiency of two electrons or an excess of two protons compared to its neutral state.

The concept of the elementary charge was experimentally determined by Robert Millikan in his oil drop experiment in the early 20th century. Millikan's work demonstrated that electric charge is quantized, meaning it exists in discrete packets rather than as a continuous quantity. This quantization of charge is a cornerstone of modern physics and is essential for understanding phenomena at the atomic and subatomic levels. The electron carries a charge of -e, while the proton carries a charge of +e. Neutrons, on the other hand, have no net electric charge.