Question

Can a body have a charge of $4.8\times {10}^{-20}$ coulomb?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. May be
• D. Only semiconductors can have

Answer 1

The correct option is B No

$\text{Step 1: Quantization of charge}$

Charge on a body is quantized which means the charge on the body will be an integral multiple of $e$.

$i.e.Q=\pm ne$ $....\left(1\right)$

where $n$ is an integer.

$\text{Step 2: Check whether n is an integer or not}$

Equation $\left(1\right)\Rightarrow$$4.8\times {10}^{-20}C=n\times 1.6\times {10}^{-19}C$

$\Rightarrow n=\frac{4.8\times {10}^{-20}}{1.6\times {10}^{-19}}=0.3$

$0.3$ is not an integer. Therefore, a body can't have a charge of $4.8\times {10}^{-20}C.$

Hence, Option(B) is correct.