Question

1. Is electric charge a discrete or continuous quantity? Explain.
2. What fundamental particle is the most common “charge carrier” we run into in everyday life?

Answer 1

Any quantity is said to be continues if we can obtain any small value we wish of this quantity. But if there is a limit of the smallest value then we said that it is discrete. In case of electrical charge, classically the smallest charge that can be obtain is the charge of a electron which is denoted by .

We can not have charge quantity like 1.5 or 2.3. charge will always be integer multiple of charge of electron.

This was the classical view. But in sub atomic level that is in quantum level it is observed that charge particle quark can have charge less than charge of electron, but this charge has also a smallest value. So electrical charge is discrete.

The fundamental particle which is most common charge carrier in our everyday life is electron. We get it everywhere, they are the charge carrier in the electric current. there are many situation where static electricity plays a important role which comes due to small or excess amount of electron.