Where does the electric charge originate from?

Electric charge originates from the fundamental particles that make up atoms, specifically the negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. Electrons carry a negative charge, while protons carry a positive charge. The interaction between these charged particles creates electric fields and results in the phenomenon of electric charge.

The electric charge originates from the fundamental properties of subatomic particles.

- Quarks: Quarks are elementary particles that make up protons and neutrons. Quarks have fractional electric charges of either +2/3 or -1/3.


- Electrons: Electrons are elementary particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. Electrons have an electric charge of -1.


The net electric charge of an object is the algebraic sum of the electric charges of its constituent particles. For example, a proton has a net electric charge of +1 because it contains two up quarks with a charge of +2/3 and one down quark with a charge of -1/3. An electron has a net electric charge of -1 because it has no quarks.

The electric charge is a fundamental property of matter. It cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transferred from one object to another. For example, when two objects are rubbed together, electrons can be transferred from one object to the other, resulting in the objects having opposite electric charges.