conservation of charge

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the principle that the total electric charge of a system is constant.

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conservation of charge British  

noun

1. the principle that the total charge of any isolated system is constant and independent of changes that take place within the system

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conservation of charge Scientific  

1. A conservation law stating that the total electric charge of a closed system remains constant over time, regardless of other possible changes within the system.

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Etymology

Origin of conservation of charge

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

This universally obeyed law of nature is called the law of conservation of charge.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The law of conservation of charge is absolute—it has never been observed to be violated.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The conservation of charge also leads to the concept of an electric circuit as a closed loop of electrical current.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

These rules are special cases of the laws of conservation of charge and conservation of energy.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Kirchhoff’s rules, special applications of the laws of conservation of charge and energy, can be used to analyze it.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015