Charge

The quantity of electricity that is present on the surface of a body or conductor. If no electricity is supplied, and the conductor is connected to the earth, it is quickly discharged. A charge is measured by the units of quantity, such as the coulomb. The charge that a conductor can retain at a given rise of potential gives its capacity, expre ible in units of capacity, such as the farad. A charge implies the stretching or straining between the surface of the charged body, and some complimentary charged surface or surfaces, near or far, of large or small area, of even or uneven distribution.