chargedparticle

A charged particle is a particle that possesses a net electric charge. This charge can be either positive or negative. The fundamental charged particles in nature are electrons, which carry a negative charge, and protons, which carry a positive charge. The magnitude of the charge of an electron and a proton is the same, but opposite in sign. This unit of charge is known as the elementary charge, denoted by the symbol e. Atoms are typically electrically neutral because they contain an equal number of protons and electrons. However, if an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion, which is a charged particle. Positively charged ions, called cations, have lost electrons, while negatively charged ions, called anions, have gained electrons.

Charged particles interact with each other and with electric and magnetic fields through the electromagnetic force. Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. This interaction is described by Coulomb's law. The motion of charged particles is fundamental to many phenomena, including electricity, magnetism, and the behavior of matter at the atomic and subatomic levels. For example, electric current in a wire is the flow of charged particles, typically electrons. In particle physics, many subatomic particles, such as quarks and muons, are also charged. Understanding charged particles is crucial in fields ranging from electromagnetism and plasma physics to astrophysics and particle accelerators.