Elementary Charge

Contents

Key Stage 5

Meaning

The elementary charge (e) is the charge of a proton, +1.60x10^-19 Coulombs.

About The Elementary Charge

The W⁺ boson, π⁺ meson and K⁺ meson all carry the elementary charge (+1.60x10^-19 Coulombs).

The electron, W^- boson, π^- meson and K^- meson all carry an charge the same magnitude as the elementary charge but with the opposite sign (-1.60x10^-19 Coulombs).

During the weak interaction both quarks and leptons can change in charge by a magnitude of the elementary charge.

The electronvolt is a unit of energy used for subatomic particles and can be calculated by dividing the energy in Joules by the magnitude of the elementary charge.

Subatomic Particle Charges as a fraction of Elementary Charge

Particle	Charge/e
Proton (\(p\))	\(+1\)
Electron (\(e\))	\(-1\)
Muon (\(\mu\))	\(-1\)
π+ meson (\(\pi^+\))	\(+1\)
π- meson (\(\pi^-\))	\(-1\)
K+ meson (\(K^+\))	\(+1\)
K- meson (\(K^-\))	\(-1\)
Up-quark (\(u\))	\(+\frac{2}{3}\)
Down-quark (\(d\))	\(-\frac{1}{3}\)
Strange-quark (\(s\))	\(-\frac{1}{3}\)
Top-quark (\(t\))	\(+\frac{2}{3}\)
Bottom-quark (\(b\))	\(-\frac{1}{3}\)
Charm-quark (\(c\))	\(+\frac{2}{3}\)