Charge charge , in electricity , property of matter that gives rise to all electrical phenomena. Every charged particle is surrounded by an electric field of force such that it attracts any charge of opposite sign brought near it and repels any charge of like sign. The magnitude of this force is described by Coulomb's Law . This force is much stronger than the gravitational force between two particles and is responsible for holding protons and electrons together in atoms and in chemical bonding.
Any physical system containing equal numbers of positive and negative charges is neutral.
Although charge is conserved, it can be transferred from one body to another. Electric current is the flow of charge through a conductor . The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.