Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that plays a crucial role in the behavior of particles and their interactions. There are two types of charge: positive and negative. Protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. The charge of a particle determines its interactions with electric and magnetic fields.

Charge Quantization: Electric charge is quantized, meaning it exists in discrete units. The smallest unit of charge is the charge of an electron or proton, which is approximately 1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs. All electric charges are integer multiples of this elementary charge.

Electric Field: Charged particles create electric fields in the space around them. An electric field exerts a force on any other charged particles placed in the field. The strength of the electric field at a given point is determined by the magnitude and sign of the electric charges present.

Example: Consider a positively charged object and a negatively charged object placed near each other. The positive charge will create an electric field that attracts the negative charge towards it. Similarly, the negative charge will create an electric field that repels the positive charge. This interaction demonstrates the fundamental property of electric charge and its influence on the behavior of particles.