In physics, a charged particle is a particle with an electric charge. For example, some elementary particles, like the electron or quarks are charged.[1] Some composite particles like protons are charged particles. An ion, such as a molecule or atom with a surplus or deficit of electrons relative to protons are also charged particles.

A plasma is a collection of charged particles, atomic nuclei and separated electrons, but can also be a gas containing a significant proportion of charged particles.

Charged particles are labeled as either positive (+) or negative (-). The designations are arbitrary. Nothing is inherent to a positively charged particle that makes it "positive", and the same goes for negatively charged particles.

Examples

Positively charged particles

Negatively charged particles

Particles with zero charge

References

  1. Frisch, David H.; Thorndike, Alan M. (1964). Elementary Particles. Princeton, New Jersey: David Van Nostrand. p. 54.
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