Earth has an excess of 60 electrons on each square centimeter of surface. Determine the electric charge on each square centimeter of surface.

The electric charge on each square centimeter of the Earth's surface is 9.6x10-18 Coulombs. We use the equation for the total charge Q if there are n that is equal to 60 electrons on each square centimeter of surface:

Q = ne-

We know that the charge e - on one electron is 1.6 x 10^-19 Coulombs. Therefore, the total electric charge Q is

Q = (60) (1.6 x 10^-19 C) = 9.6 x 10^-18 Coulombs