PHYS102: Introduction to Electromagnetism

Charge is a property of fundamental particles found in all the matter around us, and in that sense, charge is not so different from mass. The big difference between the mass and charge of a particle is that there are no negative masses. On the other hand, whereas the protons in the nucleus of an atom carry positive charge, the electrons that inhabit the outer regions of an atom are negatively charged.

To create a charge on a macroscopic object such as a balloon, we just transfer electrons from one object to another while leaving the positively-charged atomic nuclei where they are. When this is achieved by friction, it is called triboelectricity.