If it were possible to charge a conductor weighing \(10 \mathrm{~g}\) with \(1 \mathrm{C}\), what change in mass would occur on discharge to earth? How does this compare with that detectable by a chernical balance? (As to the feasibility of a charge of \(1 \mathrm{C}\), see Problems \(2.3\) and 4.6.).

Understanding the electron charge is essential for studying electricity and fundamental physics. An electron has a negative charge, which is considered one of the basic units of electric charge in the universe. This charge is denoted by the symbol ‘e’ and has a magnitude of approximately \(-1.6 \times 10^{-19}\) coulombs (C). The negative sign indicates that the charge is opposite to the positive charge of protons.

In practical terms, the charge of the electron dictates how it interacts with other charged particles, like protons in the nucleus of an atom, and how it behaves in electric and magnetic fields. It's also crucial when working with electrical circuits, as the flow of electrons constitutes an electric current.

When dealing with the concept of mass change due to charging or discharging an object, we delve into the relationship between mass and charge. To calculate the mass change, you need to know the number of electrons transferred and the mass of an individual electron.

From physics, we understand that mass is a measure of an object’s inertia, and the transfer of electrons can lead to a slight change in this property. However, because an electron’s mass is extremely small (about \(9.11 \times 10^{-31}\) kilograms), the mass change resulting from the transfer of electrons, even in large amounts, is usually minuscule and often undetectable by common measuring equipment such as a chemical balance.

The charge of a single electron is a fundamental physical constant. This constant, known as the elementary charge, has been measured with high precision to be approximately \(-1.6 \times 10^{-19}\) coulombs. In physics, it serves as the building block for quantifying the amount of electrical charge in any system. Any macroscopic charge we encounter is essentially a multitude of electron charges added together.

Considering this, when calculating the total charge in a system, you can simply multiply the elementary charge by the number of electrons present. Conversely, to find out the number of electrons involved in carrying a given charge, you divide the total charge by the elementary charge, assuming all charges are carried by electrons.

In atomic physics, the mass of one electron is another fundamental constant, intricately linked with the elementary charge. The mass of a single electron is approximately \(9.11 \times 10^{-31}\) kilograms, which is extraordinarily small compared to the mass of atoms. Due to its minuscule magnitude, the mass of an electron is often expressed in atomic mass units (amu) as well, with 1 amu being roughly equal to the mass of a proton.

Though this mass might seem negligible, especially when considering everyday objects, it becomes significant when dealing with atomic-scale processes and is fundamental to the calculations that involve the balance of mass and energy, such as in the case of the exercise regarding the discharge of a charged conductor.