Charge conservation is a fundamental principle that can be observed in various electrical phenomena. Let's explore some scenarios where charge is conserved and understand their implications.
When a capacitor is charged, electrons flow from the negative terminal of the power source and onto one of the capacitor plates. Simultaneously, an equal number of electrons flow onto the other plate, balancing the charge. When the capacitor is discharged, the electrons flow back to the power source, again preserving the overall charge.
In electrostatics, charged objects create electric fields around them. When another charged object is brought into this electric field, it experiences a force. This force is a result of the exchange of electrons between the objects, ensuring conservation of charge.
In an electrical circuit, the flow of electric current is the movement of charged particles, usually electrons. According to charge conservation, the amount of positive charge entering a certain circuit point must be equal to the amount of positive charge leaving that point, ensuring a continuous flow of electrons.
It's important to note that charge conservation doesn't mean that the distribution of charge is uniform throughout a system or object. Rather, it ensures that the total charge remains constant.