Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]PhysicsElectric Field and Potential
Identify the correct statement.
Options
- AThe total negative charge of the universe remains constant.
- BThe total positive charge of the universe remains constant.
- CThe total number of charged particles in the universe remains constant.
- DThe total charge of the universe remains constant.
Correct answer
D. The total charge of the universe remains constant.
Step-by-step solution
According to the law of conservation of charge, the net charge of an isolated system remains constant. Processes like pair production and annihilation can create or destroy equal amounts of positive and negative charges simultaneously. For example, in pair production, a high-energy photon creates an electron and a positron. In this process, the total number of charged particles increases, and both the total positive and total negative charges increase. However, the algebraic sum of all charges (the net or total cha