text: what exactly is charge? i keep asking people this and they don't get what i mean. i know the equations for it and everything but what is it as a fundamental principle? what gives electrons their charge? the idea of some particle having a negative charge was needed to properly explain the results of experiments performed by scientists like thompson, rutherford, and bohr.  keep in mind that no one has actually seen an electron, but it is part of the atomic theory, and it is an idea that has been proven by experimentation.  more information on atomic theory can be found here:  http://www.scienceclarified.com/as-bi/atomic-theory.html  here is another link to a paper called "the nature of electronic charge."  it's pretty theoretical, but perhaps it will be of use to you. http://arxiv.org/ftp/physics/papers/0408/0408053.pdf