Rafhleðslur

Rafhleðslur, which translates to "electric charges" in English, is a fundamental concept in physics. It describes the intrinsic property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric charge: positive and negative. Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. This interaction is mediated by the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature.

The unit of electric charge in the International System of Units (SI) is the coulomb, symbolized by C. The charge of a single electron is approximately -1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs, and the charge of a single proton is approximately +1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. Matter is typically composed of atoms, which consist of a nucleus containing positively charged protons and neutral neutrons, surrounded by negatively charged electrons. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero.

When an object gains or loses electrons, it becomes electrically charged. An object that gains electrons acquires a net negative charge, while an object that loses electrons acquires a net positive charge. This phenomenon is known as electrification. Electric charge is conserved, meaning that it cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one object to another. This principle is crucial for understanding many electrical phenomena, from static electricity to the flow of current in circuits.