Question

what is the relative charge of proton and electron?In ncert it is given as 1 and -1 respectively how it came as this value (since 1.6*10^-19 is elementary charge).please explain tomorrow exam

Answer 1

Dear Student

It is well known that an electron has -1.602 x 10^-19 Coulombs of charge and a proton has +1.602 x 10^-19 Coulomb.We can say that these are absolute values of charge.However, to simplify the things if we say that an electron has -1 unit charge then proton will have +1 unit charge.These numbers are then called relative charges where -1 is equivalent to -1.602 x 10^-19 Coulomb.If you ask what is then relative charge on neutron then the answer is 0 and a quark has a charge of 2/3(2/3 x 1.602 x 10^-9 Coulomb in absolute unit) .Hence the number 2/3 is a number relative to 1 unit of proton or electron charge numerically. That's all that is meant by relative charge . an alpha particle has +2 unit relative charge.

hope this helps you and all the best for your exam