Question

The conservation of electric charge implies that
This question has multiple correct options
a) charge cannot be created
b) charge cannot be destroyed
c) The number of charge particles in the universe is constant
d) simultaneous creation of equal and opposite charges is permissible

Answer 1

Hint: To answer the above question we need to know about the properties of the electric charge. We also need to know what their origin is. Therefore considering the above points we will be able to come to a correct alternative provided to us in the option.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The first property of charges is that they are additive in nature. If there exists a body which consists of ‘N’ number of charges then the total charge on the body is equal to the sum of the charges.
The second and the most important property of a charge is that it is conserved. Let us understand this with an example. If we rub a glass rod with the wool or some soft material the electrons from the rod get transferred to the wool. As a result the rod becomes positively charged due to loss of electron and the wool gets negatively charged due to gain of electron. In this example we can see that the total charge of this entire system remains constant.
The third property is the quantization of charge. It states that the total charge(q) is equal to the integral multiple of the basic unit of charge i.e. charge on an electron times the number of charges on the body.
If we consider the second property we can say that the charge can neither be created nor destroyed. Therefore we can imply that the total charge in the universe remains constant.
Hence we can imply that the correct answer of the above question are options a, b and c.

So, the correct answers are “Option A, B and C”.

Note: If we consider option d is say regarding the creation of charges which would violate the second fundamental property of charge. Therefore it is incorrect. If we consider the third property of a charge i.e. quantization it basically means that charge cannot exist as a single unit with charge on it less or more than the charge on an electron.