ELECTRON THEORY OF ELECTRICITY

Many different theories have been advanced regarding the nature of electricity but no one can just explain what electricity really is. Today is generally accepted the electron theory.

This theory proposes that all matter (earth, rocks, minerals, elements, etc.) consist of tiny particles called molecules. These molecules are made of two or smaller particles called atoms. The atoms are divided further into smaller particles called protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons, neutrons and electrons are the same in all matter like gases liquids or solids. The different properties or characteristics of all these matters are to see according to the arrangement and number of protons, neutrons and electrons to build in the end a specific atom.

The proton has a positive charge of electricity naturally

The electron has a negative charge of electricity naturally.

The neutron has no charge at all, but adds the weight to the matter.

Central core of an atom:

Protons and neutrons form the nucleus (central core) of the atoms. The electrons revolve around the Nucleus

The simplest atom is the hydrogen

atom (see above). It consists of one positive charged proton and one negative charged electron.

Other atoms are much more complicated. For example a copper atom has 29 electrons revolving around the nucleus in four different orbits.

Size of atoms

0,000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 911

To understand the size of an atom is really difficult.

And for an atom let’s use another example.

If we would think the size of a proton from a hydrogen atom could has the size like a football and could be located in Victoria Falls then its orbit would reach from the Atlantic coast of West Africa to the Pacific coast of East Africa. Now think about a piece of copper: 10 mm thick, 10 mm long and 10 mm wide. Such small pieces

mean, atoms and also electrons and protons are extremely small and relatively vast distances separate them. There should be a clear understanding when we speak about the flow of electrons! Insulators and Conductors Insulators

In most of the elements the nucleus is surrounded by closely held electrons that never leave the atom. These are called bound electrons.

If these bound electrons are in the majority in an element or compounded material then the material is called an insulator (non−conductor of electricity).

Conductors

In other types of material the nucleus is surrounded by electrons that can move freely from one atom to another one if they are forced by applied electricity.

These electrons are known as free electrons. Materials made with these atoms are called conductors of electricity.