What is the SI unit of electric charge?

The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C).

Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that can be positive or negative. The coulomb is defined as the amount of electric charge carried by a current of one ampere flowing for one second. This means that one coulomb is equivalent to 6.24 x 10^18 elementary charges, which is the charge carried by one proton or one electron.

The coulomb is used extensively in electrical measurements, such as measuring the charge on a capacitor or the current flowing through a circuit. It is also used in the calculation of electric fields and forces, as well as in the definition of other electrical units such as the volt and the ohm.

In addition to the coulomb, there are other units of electric charge that are used in specific contexts. For example, the statcoulomb is used in electrostatics and is defined as the amount of charge that would repel an identical charge at a distance of one centimetre with a force of one dyne.

Overall, understanding the SI unit of electric charge is essential for any student studying physics, as it is a fundamental concept that underpins many aspects of the subject.