We see the effects of electricity in a battery, static charge, lighting, radio, television, and many other applications. What do they all have common that is electrical in nature?

The answer is basic particles of opposite polarity.

As we studied in the last lecture, all the materials, including solids, liquids, and gases, contain two basic particles of electric charge: the electrons and protons.

An electron is the smallest amount of electrical charge having characteristics called the negative polarity.  The proton is a basic particle with positive polarity.

In order to use the electrical forces associated with the negative and positive charges in all matter, some work must be done to separate the electrons and protons.

Changing the balancing forces produces evidence of electricity.

A battery for instance, can do electrical work because its chemical energy separates electric charges to produce an excess of negative charge at its negative terminal and an excess of protons on its positive terminal. 

With separate and opposite charges at the two terminals, electric energy can be supplied to a circuit connected to the battery. In fig below shows a battery with the negative (-) and positive (+) terminals marked to emphasize the two opposite polarities.

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