CONVERSATION OF CHARGE

When we charge something with static electricity, no electrons are made or destroyed. No new protons appear or disappear. Electrons are just moved from place to place. The total electric charge stays the same. This called the Principle of Conversation of Charge. The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together very tightly. Usually the nucleus does not change does not change, but some of the outer electrons are held very loosely. They can move from one atom to another. An atom that looses electrons has more positive charges than negative charges, it is positively charged. An atom that gains electrons has more negative that positive particles, it has a negative charge.

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are very different from each other. They have their own properties. One of these properties is called an electrical charge. Protons have a "positive"(+) charge. Electrons have a "negative"(-) charge. Neutrons have no charge, they are neutral. The charge of one proton is equal in strength to the charge of one electron. When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom itself has no overall charge, it is neutral.