What is an electric charge?

Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. Whatever you see around it can be divided into smaller and smaller parts until you finally reach a part you cannot divide further. This building block is what we call an atom. Inside an atom are protons, electrons, and neutrons. Out of the three, electrons and protons fit the definition of an electric charge. The protons are positively charged, the electrons are negatively charged, and the neutrons are neutral.

A majority of the mass of the atom is concentrated in a very tiny space in the centre called the nucleus, and the electrons revolve around this heavy nucleus.

This means that electrons are held very loosely compared to protons. Therefore, the movement of charges here will be restricted to the movement of electrons. The charge of one proton is equal in strength to the charge of one electron. When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom itself has no overall charge; it is neutral.

Static Electricity

Static electricity refers to an imbalance between the electric charges in a body, specifically the imbalance between the negative and the positive charges on a body.

For example, rubbing a glass rod with silk which causes static electricity. When two objects are rubbed together to create static electricity, one object gives up electrons and becomes more positively charged, while the other material collects electrons and becomes more negatively charged. We should keep in mind that rules such as like charges repel and unlike charges attract are applicable here.

If you bring a used comb close to small pieces of paper, you will see that the comb attracts the pieces of paper. The comb loses electrons while rubbing your hair, and this charge imbalance creates static electricity, which then attracts the small bits of paper.