- Electrostatics is the study of electric charges at rest. Charges can be positive or negative. Like charges repel and opposite charges attract. - There are two types of charges - protons have a positive elementary charge (+1.6x10-19 C) while electrons have a negative elementary charge (-1.6x10-19 C). Charge is conserved in that it cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. - Conductors allow the movement of charge while insulators restrict it. Charging can occur through friction or induction without physical contact. The electric force between two charges is described by Coulomb's Law.