The formula "q = ne" represents the relationship between electric charge (q) and the number of elementary charges (n) in a system. Let's break it down:
"q" represents the electric charge of an object or system. Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that can be positive, negative, or zero. It is measured in units called coulombs (C).
"n" represents the number of elementary charges in the system. Elementary charges refer to the fundamental unit of electric charge, which is the charge carried by an electron or a proton. The elementary charge is denoted by "e" and has a value of approximately 1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs.
The formula states that the total electric charge (q) in a system is equal to the number of elementary charges (n) multiplied by the value of the elementary charge (e). In other words, it quantifies the relationship between the amount of charge and the number of charged particles present.
For example, if you have a system with 5 electrons (n = 5), you can determine the total charge (q) by multiplying the number of electrons by the elementary charge:
q = 5e
Since each electron carries a negative charge of -e, the total charge would be -5e, indicating a negative charge of 5 elementary charges.
Similarly, if you have a system with 8 protons (n = 8), you can calculate the total charge (q) by multiplying the number of protons by the elementary charge:
q = 8e
Since each proton carries a positive charge of +e, the total charge would be +8e, indicating a positive charge of 8 elementary charges.
The formula "q = ne" is a simplified representation of the relationship between charge and the number of charged particles in a system, and it helps in understanding and quantifying the behavior of electric charge in various situations.