A basic understanding of the fundamental concepts of current and voltage requires a degree of familiarity with the atom and its structure.
Matter has mass and takes up space. Atoms are basic building blocks of matter, and cannot be chemically subdivided by ordinary means.
The word atom is derived from the Greek word atom which means indivisible. The Greeks concluded that matter could be broken down into particles to small to be seen. These particles were called atoms
The word atom is derived from the Greek word atom which means indivisible. The Greeks concluded that matter could be broken down into particles to small to be seen. These particles were called atoms
The Structure of an Atom
Atoms are composed of three type of particles: protons, neutrons, and electron. Protons and neutrons are responsible for most of the atomic mass e.g in a 150 person 149 lbs, 15 oz are protons and neutrons while only 1 oz. is electrons. The mass of an electron is very small (9.108 X 10^-28 grams).
The central part of the atom is called nucleus, and contains protons and Neutrons. A proton is a positively charged particle and neutron has no charge. The protons and neutrons are very closely held together with tremendous forces.
The nucleus is surrounded by a number of tiny particles called electrons. The electrons are spinning around themselves and also are revolving round the nucleus in ‘orbits’ or shells. The electrons cam the smallest negative charge and have a negligible mass.
Under ordinary conditions, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons in an atom. Therefore, an atom is electrically neutral as a whole. Electrons have negative charge exactly equal in magnitude to the positive charge of the protons.
Energy Levels and Shells
The electrons are kept in the atom by the attraction exerted on them by the positive nucleus. In fact the electrons can be regarded as arranged and revolving in successive orbits or levels around the nucleus. The electrons in each orbit or levels are associated with a definite amount of energy. Thus the orbits are referred to as energy levels. The energy levels are denoted by the letters K, L, M, N, O, P etc, The K level is nearest to the nucleus.
The electrons in.the outermost orbit are called the valence electrons. The valence electrons are comparatively loosely bound to the rest of the atom, and they may be removed by various means e.g., by applying electrical voltage to the material..
Leave a Reply