Which of the following is NOT a property of charges?

The correct answer is Option (4) → affected by frames of reference

The basic properties of electric charge are quantisation, additivity, conservation, and the fact that charge is a scalar. Charge is also invariant: its value is the same in every frame of reference.

Option (1) Quantisation — a property of charge. Every charge is an integral multiple of the electronic charge, \( q = ne \).

Option (2) Scalar — a property of charge. Charge has magnitude and sign but no direction.

Option (3) Additive — a property of charge. The total charge of a system is the algebraic sum of the individual charges.

Option (4) affected by frames of reference — not a property of charge (the answer). The charge of a particle is the same for every observer, whether the body is at rest or moving, so it is not affected by the frame of reference.

NCERT (2026-27):
Points to Ponder – “… 6. Charge is not only a scalar (or invariant) under rotation; it is also invariant for frames of reference in relative motion.”