Wiktor Wise
Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. Everything in the universe, from stars to trees, animals, and humans, is made of atoms. These atoms are made up of electrically charged particles called electrons, protons, and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons carry no charge. The movement of these charged particles creates electricity, a form of energy that produces light and heat and powers our appliances and machinery. Electricity is all around us, from lightning in the sky to the static shock we feel when touching a doorknob after walking on a carpet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of matter | Everything in the universe is made of atoms, which are the building blocks of the universe. |
| Atoms | Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. |
| Electrical charge | Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons carry no charge. |
| Balance in atoms | An atom is in balance when it has an equal number of protons and electrons. |
| Electricity | Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles such as electrons or protons. |
| Electron movement | Electrons transmit an electrical charge through solid matter, and their movement creates electricity. |
| Electrical current | Electric current is composed of electrons moving freely through conducting substances. |
| Voltage | Voltage is the pressure pushing electrons and is measured in volts. |
| Amperage | Amperage is the number of electrons moving in an electrical circuit and is measured in amps. |
| Lightning | Lightning is a form of electricity caused by the movement of electrons between clouds or from a cloud to the ground. |
| Static electricity | Rubbing objects together can transfer electrons from one object to another, creating static electricity. |
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What You'll Learn
Atoms are the building blocks of the universe
The theory of the atom dates back to at least 440 B.C. and the Greek philosopher Democritus. Democritus' theory began with a stone. He reasoned that if a stone were to be cut in half continuously, at some point, there would be a piece of the stone too small to be further divided. This theory built upon the work of past philosophers. The term "atom" comes from the Greek word for "indivisible". While we now know that atoms are divisible, consisting of subatomic particles, they are still the smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.
The protons and electrons of an atom are attracted to each other due to their opposite electrical charges. An atom is in balance when it has an equal number of protons and electrons. However, the electrons in an atom's outermost shells may not have a strong force of attraction to the protons. These electrons can be pushed out of their orbits and shift from one atom to another. These shifting electrons are electricity. Lightning is a form of electricity, as are static electricity and the shock felt when touching an object after walking across a carpet.
Atoms are extremely small, and there are so many atoms in a given area that it is impossible to count them all. Billions of billions of atoms can be found in something as small as your hand. Atoms combine in various ways to form molecules, which can range in size from two to thousands of atoms. Engineers use their knowledge of atomic structure to develop new materials and technologies, such as non-stick coatings for frying pans and lasers used in medicine and industry.
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Protons, neutrons and electrons
Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. Everything in the universe, from stars to trees, animals, and humans, is made of atoms. Atoms are made of extremely tiny particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons and neutrons are in the center of the atom, forming the nucleus, while electrons surround the nucleus. Protons have a positive charge, and electrons have a negative charge. These charges are exactly the same in size but opposite in polarity. The positive charge of protons and the negative charge of electrons cancel each other out, making atoms electrically neutral. Neutrons, on the other hand, carry no charge. They are neutral particles.
The number of protons in an atom determines what kind of atom or element it is. The number of protons defines the atomic number of an element in the Periodic Table of Elements. For example, hydrogen (H) atoms have one proton, while carbon (C) atoms have six. Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.
Electrons usually maintain a constant distance from the atom's nucleus, distributed in precise shells. The electrons in the shells closest to the nucleus have a strong force of attraction to the protons. However, the electrons in the outermost shells may have a weaker attraction to the protons. These electrons can be pushed out of their orbits and move from one atom to another. This movement of electrons is what we refer to as electricity. For instance, lightning is a form of electricity where electrons move from one cloud to another or from a cloud to the ground.
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Electric charge
Atoms are electrically neutral because they contain the same number of electrons and protons, so their charges cancel each other out. However, atoms can become charged, or 'ionised', by gaining or losing electrons. When an atom loses an electron, it has a net positive charge, and when it gains an electron, it has a net negative charge.
The movement of electrons from one atom to another is electricity. For example, lightning is a form of electricity where electrons move from one cloud to another or from a cloud to the ground. Static electricity is another example, where a stream of electrons jump from one object to another.
The unit of electric charge in the metre-kilogram-second and SI systems is the coulomb. One coulomb is defined as the amount of electric charge that flows through a cross-section of a conductor in an electric circuit each second when the current has a value of one ampere. One coulomb consists of 6.24 x 10^18 natural units of electric charge.
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Static electricity
Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. Everything, from stars to trees, animals to water, is made of atoms. Atoms are made up of a nucleus, consisting of protons and neutrons, and electrons, which spin around the nucleus in shells. Protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. Neutrons carry no charge. An atom is in balance when it has an equal number of protons and electrons.
When the materials are separated, they retain this charge imbalance. If the electron-receiving material is not a conductor, it will hold on to the electrons, resulting in a buildup of electric charge. This is known as static electricity. Static electricity can also be generated by pressure, deformation, or rapid temperature changes.
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Electric current
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and contain protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and electrons carry an electrical charge. Protons have a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative one. These opposite charges attract each other, and an atom is in balance when it has an equal number of protons and electrons.
Electrons spin around the nucleus in shells and usually remain at a constant distance from it. However, the electrons in the outermost shells may not have a strong force of attraction to the protons. These electrons can be pushed out of their orbits and move from one atom to another. This movement of electrons is what we call electricity.
The movement of electric charge creates a magnetic field and is described by Maxwell's equations, which explain the relationship between electricity and magnetism. Ørsted discovered in 1821 that a magnetic field existed around all sides of a wire carrying an electric current, indicating a connection between electricity and magnetism distinct from gravitational and electrostatic forces.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles like electrons and protons. It is a secondary energy source that is converted from other energy sources like coal, natural gas, and oil.
Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. Everything in the universe, including the air and water, is made of atoms. Atoms are made up of electrically charged particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Electrons are the smallest units of electricity. They carry a negative charge and move about the nucleus of an atom at a very high speed. The movement of electrons creates electricity.
Protons carry a positive charge and are present in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons in an atom determines what kind of atom or element it is.
Static electricity is caused by the movement of electrons from one object to another. For example, when you touch a metal doorknob after walking on a carpet, a stream of electrons jumps from the doorknob to you, resulting in a shock.
