The law of conservation of charge is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant over time. This means that charge cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or redistributed within the system.
To understand this concept better, let's consider an example. Imagine a closed system made up of two metal spheres connected by a conductor. Initially, Sphere A has a positive charge, while Sphere B is neutral. As the two spheres are in contact, electrons from Sphere A will transfer to Sphere B until both spheres have an equal and opposite charge, resulting in a neutral overall system. This transfer of charge demonstrates the conservation of charge principle.
This law is derived from the basic principles of electromagnetism and has been experimentally verified countless times. It is a crucial concept in various branches of physics, including electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and particle physics.