Question

What is the charge of an electron?

Answer 1

The electric charge carried by a single proton, or, equivalently, the magnitude of the negative electric charge carried by a single electron, which has charge - 1 e, is known as the elementary charge. This fundamental physical constant is the elementary charge. e is frequently referred to as the elementary positive charge to prevent confusion about its sign.

Complete step-by-step solution:
The fundamental scientific constant representing the naturally occurring unit of electric charge, the electron charge (symbol e), is equal to $1.602176634 \times {10^{ - 19}}$coulomb. All freely existent charged subatomic particles identified thus far have an electric charge equal to this amount or a whole-number multiple of it, in addition to the electron. Charges of$\frac{1}{3}$ or$\frac{2}{3}$ of this magnitude are found in quarks, which are constantly bonded within bigger subatomic particles like protons and neutrons. The electron was unmistakably discovered by JJ Thomson. Despite all of his efforts, he was only able to get the electron's charge to mass ratio. Robert Millikan, through his oil-drop experiment in 1909, holds the distinction of being the first to detect the electron's charge.
Millikan's oil-drop experiment is a well-known method for calculating e. In an electric field, a little drop of oil would flow at a pace that balanced the forces of gravity, viscosity (air resistance), and electric force. Based on the size and velocity of the oil drop, the forces due to gravity and viscosity could be computed, and an electric force could be derived. The electric charge of the oil drop could be properly estimated since electric force is the product of the electric charge and the known electric field. It may be seen that the charges of many distinct oil droplets are all integer multiples of a single tiny charge, namely e, by measuring the charges of many distinct oil droplets.
The use of small plastic spheres of uniform size can obviate the need to measure the size of the oil droplets. Adjusting the intensity of the electric field such that the sphere hovers immobile eliminates the force due to viscosity.

Note: An electron is a subatomic particle with the symbol e– or e. It is polarised in a bad way. Charge, mass, spin, and other attributes are inherited by an electron. The electron's values include the charge of an electron, its mass, and a quantum mechanical property called the electron's spin, as well as associated units.